The Hopi Indian

Establishing shot: Film opens overlooking a flowing Grand Canyon, Arizona.
Named locations: The Grand Canyon, Arizona; village of Shungopavi, Second Mesa, AZ.
Major themes covered: The daily life of the Hopi Indian.
Native activities shown: 

Opening shot is of the Grand Canyon, exact location unknown;

00:00:44 Shows the village of Shungopavi, on Second Mesa;

Hopi man leading a mule; Hopi man and child leaving their pueblo home in the village of Shungopavi; A Hopi man fetching water with a bucket; Hopi man irrigating his crops; A Hopi man harvesting squash from his fields; Hopi man picking fruit from a tree; Hopi man walking through and harvesting a corn field; A Hopi woman chopping wood; A Hopi woman grinding corn on a grinding stone; A Hopi woman making traditional piki bread; A Hopi woman presenting future in-laws piki bread as a proposal to their son; Washing the bride and groom’s hair as part of the marriage ceremony; Hopi man making a wedding sash for a marriage ceremony; A young bride preparing for her marriage; Hopi marriage ceremony; 00:07:24 father in-law tells bride “we will take you home now, your family is waiting for you” this statement is followed by his wife’s response of “yes”; 00:08:07 Young bride shows wedding robes to parents and father tells her, “People who helped you will try on these robes.”

00:08:15 Father in-law explains what he is doing by telling bride, “I’m going to put this on you and tie this on.”

Individuals Named: 
Native language spoken: Hopi is spoken during the marriage ceremony
Audible:  Good quality English narration. Hopi language must be turned up to hear, but is clear.
Noteworthy elements:  Good information about the Hopi marriage ceremonies
Other notes: This picture was made through the courtesy of United States Department of Interior Office of Indian Affairs, supervision by Alfred Whiting, Museum of Northern Arizona.

CORRECTION to be noted: New brides are presented at Niman, also known as the Home Dance, NOT at the Snake Dance.

See also: The Hopi Tribe home page: http://www.hopi-nsn.gov/Home/tabid/59/Default.aspx

--Andie Belone (Hopi), 2012