Hopis Dance at Ancestral Pueblo in Springerville
by Barbara Armstrong
September 2001
A very special event took place the Saturday after the summer solstice, June 23, at Casa Malpais, in Springerville, Arizona. A group of Hopi Indians returned to an ancestral pueblo some 600-800 years after migrating away, to perform a traditional dance. Casa Malpais (Spanish for "Badlands House") is believed to be a large ancient ceremonial center. There are some very unusual "catacombs" in the lava formations which were used for burials.
Some archeologists believe the Hopi Katsina religion had its origin near the place this dance was performed, on the upper Little Colorado River, around the year 1300 AD or so. I refer you to E. Charles Adams' book, "The Origin and Development of the Pueblo Katsina Cult". The Hopis feel they had their religion already when they entered this Fourth World from an underworld, with the place of emergence being at the confluence of the Little Colorado River and the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon.
The dance performed was the buffalo dance. The dance was obtained from a Rio Grande pueblo previously in history. It is basically a prayer for large game, or in more modern terms, plenty of food in the pantry, refrigerator and freezer. Prior to the dance in the morning the Hopis visited the large ancient kiva at Casa Malpais and said appropriate prayers. The words for the chants were original to the ceremony and included prayers for blessing to all the participants, all the world, and wishes for safe travel home. The costume symbols and chants included prayers for rain, and it did rain after each of the two performances.
Hopi families involved in this ceremony were the Suqnevahyas, Talashomas, and Puheomas. Clans included Sun Forehead, Reed and Bear. Villages represented included Third Mesa and Second Mesa, Shipaulovi. Dancers were Tom Puheoma, Jr. and his sister Tammy, and Ephren Suqnevahya and his sister Sunnirae.
The dance was made possible by the friendship and sponsorship of Charles Rand, former site steward of Raven Site in Springerville-St. Johns. Raven Site, a privately owned ruin, was closed recently due to a court judgment returning the site to a previous owner.
Another privately owned site offering friendship and sponsorship to Hopis, Chimney Rock in Colorado, has also offered dances at an ancestral pueblo. This year the dance was scheduled for mid-July.
A Zuni group danced at Chaco Canyon on June 23 this year, also for the first time since migrating away from Chaco approximately 700 years ago. Dances have also been performed by Hopis at Mesa Verde, another ancestral site.
Spectators reported the ceremony to be awesome, a great blessing, and many reported "goosebumps" and that the dance and chants were deeply moving, even though the audience mostly did not speak or understand the Hopi language.
ASKWALI !!
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