.
.
The leadership of the Hopi came to a parting of the ways in the late 1800's. The old clan leaders had their authority and power challenged by a group of Young Turks who had been bypassed in the power selection process. The traditionalist, clan-leader/religious faction wished to resist any measures, policies, or orders coming from Washington, the latest in a long line of infidels which they had witnessed. The other group, more progressive in its outlook, was composed mostly of younger Hopi who had leadership qualities and abilities, but were outside the “correct” clans, or who lacked the proper connections. This faction had hopes that cooperation with the Federal Government, along with the White Man's education, would offer new opportunities and progress for their people.
The conservative group was opposed to Anglo farming, ranching, and settlements near the mesa. They resented intrusions by teachers, missionaries, bureaucrats, and traders around their towns. This faction came to be called “the Hostiles.” The members of the faction that was willing to acknowledge that a new century was about to dawn were called “the Friendlies.” Bad blood sprang up within the community.
In 1895, the Federal Government mandated that the Hopi practice of clan ownership of land had to be replaced with individual land titles. The Hopi had a two-thousand year tradition of surviving droughts in a hostile land. Their system appeared to be collectivist to the bureaucrats in Washington, but it spread risk, and had worked through many trying tests of drought and disaster in a severe environment. The conservative, Hostile leaders did not trust Washington, and suspected that the new system of land titles was being imposed to make it easier for Whites to seize Hopi territory. Several of the Hostiles opposed the decree with such vehemence that they were jailed for a number of years in Alcatraz. In the late 1890's, the village of Shongopovi, which had experienced epidemics in the past, was again hit by a wave of smallpox. Washington responded and sent public health workers to the region. Their mission was to vaccinate the people and to fumigate homes. The Hostiles refused to let these workers even enter the village. The Friendlies used this opportunity to stage a demonstration of outrage, and drove the Hostiles from Shongopovi. This sort of disrespect to clan leaders was unheard of in Hopiland, and Oraibi offered refuge to the displaced Hostiles.
This act of sympathy was to have repercussions on the internal peace of Oraibi, a town long known as a bastion of conservatism. The village had been deeply split since one of their respected leaders, Lololoma, along with four companions from other villages, had taken a trip to Washington. Lololoma had previously been generally antagonistic to the Anglos, but he was highly impressed with the Marble Halls, and with what he heard in the Corridors of Power. Following this trip, Lololoma switched his position and became a prominent Friendly. When he died, several years later, he passed his mantle to a young successor, Tewaquaptewa.
.
.
Proceed to Welcome to the Twentieth
Century
Follow scholar Kokopelli to the Suggested
Reading List
Return with Kokopelli to the hogan page, the
Table of Contents
.
Black Mesa Highlighted in Sunlight on a Stormy Day
.
to
treeves@ionet.net
.
.
Contents, including illustrations, copyright T. K. Reeves, 1997.
on 5 April, 1997.
