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| "Naangu'a prairy, Tutskwa I'qatsi, Since uuna's death I have had little contact with the mesas. Last year I did meet with Cimmaron Grover who is a traditional living in Hotevilla. He told me that there were less than 30 traditionals in Hotevilla now. Below, I will share part of my Master's Project where I wrote about these matters for scholars, as I prepared to communicate Tuuwaqatsi's message to those of the modern world. The following is a portion of that paper relating to your question, which I extracted from my Project (Native American Dialogues); I have removed most of the references from the text. I hope that this will help answer your question: "...The name “Hopi” is often translated as “peaceful” and “honest,” but (Hopi elder) Dan Katchongva gives this name a deeper meaning: Hopi means not only to be peaceful, but to obey and have faith in the instructions of the Great Spirit, and not to distort any of his teachings for influence or power, or in any way corrupt the Hopi Way of life. Otherwise the name will be taken away. According to the above definition, some now living on the Hopi reservation, even helping to administer it, may have lost their right to be called Hopi if they have strayed from their traditional instructions which form the Hopi Way. A division among the Hopi between those who follow their original instructions and those who choose a new way of life was prophesied to occur at the end of this Fourth World, as explained by Dan Katchongva: "...We Hopi knew all this would come about (forces seeking to change the Hopi Way)… If we were to accept those offers from his government, that would be the doom of the Hopi Nation…We know that when the time comes, the Hopi will be reduced to maybe one person, two persons, three persons (following the Hopi Way)..." Then eldest elder Dan Evehema further explains this prophesied division which has occurred in recent times: "...Our prophets predicted that there would be another split as there was in 1906 when there was no solution for both factions to live side-by-side when one side forsakes the Divine Law and our religious leaders (act) for cultural change away from Hopi ways…This will lead to…(two ways) Bahanna (Euroamerican) way…and… Hopi way. This choice will be up to each of us, to choose either of the paths freely..." The reference to the 1906 split refers to Yukiuma and other traditionals—labeled hostiles because they wouldn’t accede to American demands to have their children removed and re-educated— were forcibly evicted from Oraibi eventually establishing the village of Hotevilla where they could continue to follow their original instructions (after great abuse and near death suffering from the attempts to force them to accept U.S. demands). Katchongva, who died in 1972 at the age of 107, was present with his father Yukiuma as a participant in these events, providing us with an inside view. He offers a different picture than that of Oswalt (2002) who gives several other reasons for the 1906 conflicts: surveying of Hopi land; erosion disputes of Hopi farmland; Navajo encroachments; and a smallpox epidemic. Katchongva (1972) leaves no doubt that the real basis of their resistance was to protect the Hopi way of life, and thus to continue helping hold the world in balance— their raison d’etre. Today, many Hotevilla traditionals do not recognize the authority of the Tribal Council and its non-Hopi form of government, set up in recent generations to do business with the U.S. government and corporations interested in exploiting Hopi lands (e.g. Peabody Coal). Although some traditionals have joined the Tribal Council, many others hold that the Hopi Way is destroyed by accommodation with modern ways (as warned in prophecy) and hurts their sacred lands. This view was demonstrated in a statement drawn up by six traditional elders which accompanied a 1971 Hopi lawsuit filed against Peabody Coal to stop them from strip-mining on Hopi lands: "...Hopi land is held in trust in a spiritual way for the Great Spirit, Massau’u….The area we call “Tukunavi” [which includes Black Mesa] is part of the heart of our Mother Earth. Within this heart the Hopi has left his seal by leaving religious items and clan markings and plantings and ancient burial grounds as his landmarks and shrines….This land was granted to the Hopi by a power greater than man can explain….The land is sacred and if the land is abused, the sacredness of Hopi life will disappear and all other life as well..." So, some traditionalists have stood apart from the Tribal Council continuing to live autonomously, following the simple, humble way of life taught to them by Masau. This is where the Hopi stand today: the Tribal Council has been leasing Hopi lands to Coal mining interests which drains their local water table and the ability of the Hopi to survive, and digging up their sacred land for power lines, sewers, and other American conveniences, further eroding the traditional Hopi independent way of life. As Dan Katchongva warned, per Hopi prophecy, fewer and fewer traditionals remain to follow their original instructions. And, as pointed out by Dan Evehema (1995, 1997), even some religious leaders, keepers of the most sacred knowledge, are confused about their instructions causing divisions within the highest religious circles. If Hopi prophecy is correct, this seems to be the time— when the Hopi Way is in deep trouble, and life is out-of-balance (kooyanisqatsi) — that the return of Masau, the caretaker of our Earth, can be expected. As described by Dan Evehema: "...After the Hopi have fulfilled their pattern of life [when there are no more traditionalists left and thus at the closing of the Fourth Cycle], Maasaw will be the leader, but not before, for He is the first, and He shall be the last. At time’s end, a new age will appear. There will be a new dawn of time when the world will bloom into peacefulness..." The "new dawn of time" Little Dan spoke of, refers to what I have been sharing with you regarding our Earth's movement to Taalawsohu, the Morning Star-Fifth World, where those of us who endure with Tuuwaqatsi will receive their crowning life with Her. naawakna nihqe kyaptsita, upaava Hohongwitutiwa" |
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| "Ngungu'taota, Tutskwa I'qatsi, ........for those who are friends of our Earth Mother here, and who wish to hear about the sacred knowledge kept by the Hopi now being openly returned. Forgive me for the length of this post, but I am seeking to make up for lost time, by filling in some background, and a bit of an overview of the great importance of this period upon our Earth, as known to the Himu Sinom. In the last decade, according to their laws, I was adopted by a Hopi elder and Chief Priest. The Hopi are a North American Indian people who have carefully retained original knowledge about life for many centuries. Through my adoption I became the elder's son and a member of his tribe-- my Hopi name is Hohongwitutiwa. My native father was one of the keepers of his people's most sacred information, holding one of the highest positions of authority and responsibility. His dreams and visions, and the instructions given his people concerning this period, as well as the prophetic signs now around us in the world, made it clear to him that it was time to openly share some of their sacred knowledge with the world. After being initiated in this knowledge by my native father, and learning some of their language, I spent about two years with him helping to share this knowledge with the world, until his death at age 102. Some of you may remember us by the names used by my native father on the Internet as Wikimah and Wikimahaw, and my names of upaava, and Solomon. Following my father's death, according to his wishes and the direction of my own heart, I have continued sharing the knowledge he passed on to me, on the Internet, in a college Master's degree project, and now in this book, where it is hoped that our Earth Mother's message may reach a larger audience. During the years my native father and I worked together sharing this message with others before his death, everyone who knew him was greatly moved by his deep humility, compassion, and complete devotion to our Earth. Even while writing these words about him, I can hear my father telling me not to spend time speaking about him, but to tell others about our Earth Mother. Father always bowed to others as their servant and was uncomfortable when some non-native people put him (as a native medicine man) upon a pedestal, which he always discouraged in every way he could. My background provides me with two different points of view, two different worldviews from which to see and understand the Universe: one from my upbringing and education in mainstream America, and the other in my training and experiences as a member of my native father's people. This dual background affords me the opportunity to act as a bridge between two worldviews, hopefully to better communicate different, and sometimes conflicting ideas and values between cultures. I know this is something that my native father hoped for me-- that my understanding of modern Western culture would allow me to do better than he in communicating to them the knowledge and warnings being returned to us at this important time. My native father did not always understand the thinking and values of the modern Western world: the traditional way of his people is dedicated in service to the Earth and its life, while the modern world is often selfish and self-centered, something difficult for him to comprehend. Although the knowledge shared by my native father may not have been communicated with as much understanding of the Western psyche as I have, his authentic love and concern for others always shone through, bridging cultural differences more than can be accomplished by words alone. Many people let down their "walls" and considered the ideas he presented because of the genuine caring and compassion which they received from him. Today, many people in our modern, heavily materialistic and technological Western world, have largely lost their connections to the Land-Earth, living out-of-balance with life, with the sacred and spiritual being devalued and people dehumanized— what the Hopi call Koyaanisqatsi. The people of the world are becoming divided about what has true value and importance in life, and thus, how we choose to live. Those who believe in a Great Spirit (God), and a Promised Land, Fifth World, or Heaven, in their various faiths, sometimes argue that there are different ways we can live to reach this paradise God holds for us. But this is not the way originally taught to us long ago, and still retained by some peoples. The original "Law of Life," kept by the Hopi and others, instructs us that there is only ONE way that the universe is made, and we cannot change that according to how we choose to believe. Nature unfolds as God has made it, and its seasons—those known and those only dimly remembered in this age-- all arrive in their appointed times. Accordingly, there is only one road that carries us to our promised place, and that has always been with our Mother Earth and the unfolding Time God has given to us with Her. As puzzling as this may sound now, in the coming days we will all be asked to choose between the road that follows the Law of Life with our Earth, or the backward road that takes us away from our Earth into a new Time and place. These two roads are those spoken about in the scriptures of the world, and among some native peoples, such as on the Hopi Prophecy Rock, an ancient petroglyph carved in stone. An old season has returned to us; and once again there will be those who will be immovable from the Earth, and those who will make horrible choices. This information is being sent to us now by our Earth Mother, a great living being within whom we are deeply rooted, who deserves our loving gratitude for all She provides to us-- our food, clothing, shelter, and the spirit of life itself— indeed, everything that we have. This perception of our Earth may seem strange to those raised within the modern Western World. But, upon deeper reflection they may find that recognizing the Earth as a living entity—and thus our mother in the fullest meaning of the word-- answers many questions within them they have been searching to find. Our Earth is now on the cusp of great changes, the final step up the ladder of our evolutionary development within the Great Spirit's plan for life. This meaningful time for our world is when knowledge of our Earth and our deep relationship to Her, as well as the evolutionary process carrying us within our Solar System, is returned to everyone to help prepare us for the unexpected choices we are soon to face in the world. As mentioned, we live in an important time. The period our world has now entered into (Purification Time) will bring with it extremely important choices for our futures; the most important choices we are ever asked to make. This period is part of a natural cycle that occurs within ours and other Solar Systems, advancing the life of each world-- for our Earth it will be the final step. We will have the opportunity to progress with our Mother Earth, or not, depending upon how wisely we choose. The serious consequences of our coming choices have brought us higher assistance, so we can understand where we have come from, where we are going, and our true relationship to our Earth, and God. Original knowledge, lost to most of the world today, is being returned so we can choose wisely in the days ahead. In the coming days, if we choose to break our covenant, abandoning our Earth and the unfolding Time we have with Her, we will lose the mother world who has bore and nurtured us through all of our past ages, and the loved ones we have known with Her during those times. Worst of all, we can lose our Mother, and the fruition of all we have been long striving toward upon our Earth: our perfected, eternal forms, and the heavenly world which our Earth will soon become. As many indigenous peoples have sought to tell us, the Universe is alive. A living Universe means that every part of it has life, from largest to smallest. God's life thus comes "down" to us through our living Mother Earth, part of the living Universe of God. Our Earth has been carrying life from its earliest stages to our presently evolved bodies we call Homo sapiens. But this is not our final form, which is completed at the end of the Earth's journey through our system when She becomes the new Heaven, or Fifth World, as known to some native peoples. Our covenant with God requires that we remain within the womb of the Earth and Her unfolding Time until She reaches the pinnacle of our system as the new Morning Star. Our Earth now readies Herself to take this final step, where those who are immovable from Her during this final Purification will receive their crowning life, the completion of our long evolutionary development. Soon, Time will change upon our world, as an incomplete knowledge of Time will be acclaimed and made available for us to use. This "Time as Direction" has long been known among the priestly orders of indigenous peoples, but is not meant for us to use while we are yet incomplete— this is the "forbidden fruit" warned about in the past. Going into this new Time, rather than remaining within the calendar Time given to us by the Great Spirit, removes us bodily from our Earth Mother, and the natural processes of life, death, and evolution we are meant to remain within until perfected in the Fifth World-Heaven. Our living Mother Earth restores knowledge to us and sends us warnings, so we will not be deceived when tempted to abandon Her into the forthcoming new Time. If a human mother loves her child, how much more must the Mother of all the Earth's life love Her children? Our Earth Mother's message is a call to all of Her children. She asks us to be stronghearted and faithful to Her through all the coming trials, so we may join Her as Her perfected children when She becomes the brightest jewel in the sky— the new Fifth World-the new Heaven. I will stop here so you can read these matters and reflect upon them. I am here to pass this knowledge on to you, so feel free to ask questions and share your own feelings. Naawakna nihqe kyaptsita - with love and respect, upaava - your brother, Hohongwitutiwa" |