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The importance of the Hopi Perspective

Traditional approaches to learning, coupled with archaeological research and modern technology, can contribute a great deal in the preservation of tangible and intangible cultural resources. Oral histories are one of the primary foundations of many cultures; a far richer perspective of the value of Homol'ovi can be realized by reaping the benefits of Hopi oral traditions. Information for this project was collected by readings, the Hopi tribal website, the Hopi Cultural Preservation website, and by talking to Hopi individuals of various ages in casual and class lecture environments.

The Hopi are the direct descendants of Hisatsinom (the Ancient Ones), and the ancestors of several clans trace their migration stories from Homol'ovi. Hopi oral tradition recounts that Homol'ovi was a stopping point for the clans that traveled north from Palatkwapi (an ancestral village to the south of Hopi Country).In an interview, Hopi advisor Dalton Taylor said, "Ruins are very important. These aren't just old ruins-it's the history of our migrations, and how our ancestors traveled"(Colwell-Chanthaphonh and Ferguson, 2006:148). Hopi scholar Micah Loma'omvaya explained, "It (ancestral sites) signifies places we used to live- our homeland. It helps us connect to the past, the condition in which ancestors used to live. They serve as monuments to our history; it is a textbook to open each time we go back" (Colwell-Chanthaphonh and Ferguson, 2006:148).

All methods of recording the past have value, and oral traditions account for a large portion of this method of recognition in all societies and cultures. Mythological or symbolic aspects may be added to emphasize specific events or lessons. Micah Loma'omvaya averred, "This fusion of past and present supports our ability to pass on a legacy to the next generation of Hopi and to find ways in which we can share our complex history with others." The history of the Hopi, beginning with their emergence stories (Yayniini,which means the Hopi Beginning), clan migrations (Ang Kuktota, which means We Make Footprints Here), and a multitude of other aspects of Hopi society are indeed highly complex. Only a person who has been born into the Hopi society is privy to his/her clan stories, however today it is possible to find some of these stories and other valuable information through the Hopi Cultural Preservation Office website and the Hopi Tribal website. According to oral traditions some clans emerged from the third world through the sipapuni,


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    by Katalina Narvaez

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