Hopi Christmas in a Kiva

On December 1, 2023, we joined a group of dedicated volunteers to visit Hopiland. Together, we brought wood for fuel, cottonwood for kachina doll making, call for ceremonies, food, and clothing.
Orlan, who is a member of the Yellow Fox Clan, owns a kiva in the village of Moenkopi, which is next to Tuba City, AZ. Orlan invited us to enter his kiva where we could discuss spiritual matters. Eighty-three volunteers fitted into this humble structure. We were there for over 2 hours, and Orlan spoke to us and talked about the Hopi ways, how when, they get together for their ceremonies in the kivas, they pray for all humanity and for us to return to the peaceful simple ways of life and living.
He said a prayer in the Hopi tongue for us and let one of our Christian brothers pray as well. Mike sweat, who runs the nonprofit organization UnitedRain.org, and it has helped to get volunteers to assist the Hopi, reminded us more than once how rare and blessed of an occasion this was to enter a kiva as an outsider. He was only aware of this happening with four other individuals on past occasions. This may have been the first time that a Christian prayer was ever offered in a kiva.
In this video, we will chronicle our trip, some things that we learned, and some efforts being made to assist these people and to feel their love and humility. We sincerely hope this podcast will encourage people to get involved in helping them further their economic prosperity as they seek for replacement revenue from losing coal mining jobs and receipts for the sale of coal, which previously provided important financial stability to their communities.

[@bernie66]

I enjoyed your info. I am Hopi from Fiest Mesa, and our Grandmothers home is the last home on the left as you enter the narrow ridge to reach Walpi. There is alot to learn and I still am. Thank You 👍👋

[@noahriding5780]

I'm curious to ask, weren't the ancient Hopi holidays different dates than ours? And I suspect that their Holidays might match a Jewish calendar's holidays.

[@treykoyawena4443]

2:08 wish I was there to watch that dance!!! Yes we’re still here after everything that we’ve been through I’m am grateful you got so much information straight from the source not from the internet or a book written by non native My grandfather was a kiva chief for years 24:40 my great grandmother’s house Many elders have been going through many hardships especially today that story of that misungovi elder waiting for someone to bring her water broke my heart.

[@YoursTrulyThe1Pony]

That pink house is my Great Grandma's house, we just recently reopened that house after about 15 years since she passed away. It was left untouched with everything still inside just the way we left it.

[@visionofzion4784]

That is wonderful! That is is a wonderful way to honor her passing. Thank you for sharing.

[@treykoyawena4443]

Yeah that’s our family’s house

[@disguy734]

Every day u learned hopi. Very glad. Respect n hope nations don't bomb the world. Thank you much respect

[@noahriding5780]

When the missionaries first went to the Hopi in the 1800s, they found that the Hopi had had dreams and visions that the missionaries would come and that it was of God. But almost no one joined the church and accepted the Gospel. I suspect that part of the reasons for this were that the Hopi culture was closer to some Jewish traditions rather than Ephraimite traditions and that this is partly why they had trouble recognizing how to accept things, and why they couldn't at the time. The 2 war twins story for example is closer to the story of '2 messiahs'. LDS don't teach 2 messiahs but Jewish people DO teach 2 messiahs, where 1 is a lesser messiah that will be marred. ... Also in native cultures; the angels and becoming an angel, ascending to be an angel, or resurrecting, being resurrected was represented by eagle feathers, and other elite avian feathers. Then the other animals being symbols of the priesthood were associated with animals like, bear, fox, and so on... it fits in with that because they are 'strengthened', but not yet angels yet. And the animals mean their priesthood was overcoming the natural man, which is a beast; get it? Overcoming the natural man, the beast to become a saint or an eagle feather, which is an angel. (And now that you think about it, the chiefs and leaders were associated with eagle feathers because of angels.)Thus, animal symbols actually fit when you unlock the true meaning. ... The meaning of Pemmican is very similar to how Nephi ate meat that was sweetened quoted in 1st Nephi. Counting coup by the plains tribes tradition comes from how the people of Ammon stood up to their brothers armies with no weapons with courage and allowed to live. There are so many links to the gospel in native heritage. Things that only natives will recognize. ... The old stories of Missionaries from the 1800s said that there used to be... I think it was 7 mesas originally with Hopi villages/cities on them. It would be interesting to hear from them about what they say about the other mesas and what happened to them.