Hopi and Navajo Cultures by WILL
Mr. Coin is a Hopi, and he took us on a tour of the reservation. We weren't allowed to take photos of most of the places we visited.
By WILL
After leaving the eastern part of our trip, I was excited for the western part. We were going to explore some more, but traveling west, also meant that we were getting closer to home.
Before that, we had a few stops. One of them was Monument Valley, which is on the border of Utah and Arizona. This was one of the first stops because of the location.
Monument Valley is a national park that was once a sea. This destination is no longer a sea because the water evaporated and the land began. Even though this happened billions of years ago, people go there to learn about the geography and peoples’ different cultural experiences, particularly the Navajo.
Another place people visit to learn about religion is the Hopi reservation, also in Arizona, which lies in the center of the Navajo reservation. I learned a lot about the Hopi from the tour and some books that interested me on the different lifestyles.
I was able to compare and contrast the cultures of the people after the Monument Valley tour and my mini-inquiry around the Hopi and Navajo peoples.
Hopi and Navajo cultures are very different in their religion, their lifestyles, and history. Some of the main differences between the two cultures history is the impact settlers made on them when they arrived. This led to two different approaches in the lifestyle, where the Navajo became more war-like because of the settlers impression, whereas the Hopi became peaceful and avoided conflict as much as possible. Both cultures have two completely opposite approaches to management.
The Navajo culture is war-like, as many cultures are. The Navajo become warriors at a young age, therefore, their aggressiveness and resourcefulness define the Navajo. They use everything, like twigs to build houses and rocks to cut meats. They also use antlers for knife handles. Although they may be perceived as being hostile, their resourcefulness can also be useful.
We saw petroglyphs on both the Hopi and Navajo reservations. They are ancient drawings on the rocks.
However, all cultures aren’t war-like, like the Hopi, who are peaceful. The Hopi value their community. They avoid conflict as much as possible.
Hopi cultivate corn, beans and watermelon. Children do Kachina dances to pray for rain for these crops. This is an example of peace because the Hopi are not fighting against another tribe for resources. Instead, the Hopi choose to pray to obtain what they want.
Additionally, this culture chooses not to hunt. Again, they choose less conflicting approaches. Even their religious practices are pacifist. They use eagle, roadrunner, and turkey feathers in prayers.
The Hopi view the birds as religious icons and they are respectful of the animals. For all these reasons, the Hopi are less confrontational. Our guide Mr. Coin said he would like to see Hopi young people learn to be more assertive.
We explored Monument Valley with a Navajo guide.
Neither tribe is good or bad, but they each have a situation that they’re good at and one that’s not so good for them. This is why they have made the decisions that they have made about how they are organized and how they operate.
Sometimes it’s crucial to be peaceful, or sometimes more provocative. For example, it is important to protect your community, your family, and your property. Sometimes people are going to want to change different aspects about these things and you have to stand up for yourself.
Both of these tribes tried to protect their lifestyles by choosing to defend their culture and religion in different ways. Furthermore, humans and nature greatly influenced both of these tribes. But because they are different, it doesn’t make one better or worse, you just have to learn how to tolerate differences.
My favorite rock formation in Monument Valley. Check out that W!
