File:American Indians - first families of the Southwest (1920) (14796107283).jpg

Identifier: cu31924028656738 (find matches)
Title: American Indians : first families of the Southwest
Year: 1920 (1920s)
Authors: Huckel, John Frederick, 1863-1936 Harvey, Fred
Subjects: Indians of North America
Publisher: Kansas City, Mo. : F. Harvey
Contributing Library: Cornell University Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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d Canyon. The altar shown here is that of the Powamu society.The god of germination is represented by the largest of the three idols, the nextis the god of thunder and the small black figure is Pookong, the god of war. The banquette, or wall seat, about three sides of the room, is used by theassisting priests. The floor is of rough flat stones, loosely fitted together, theinterstices occupied by smaller stones. On the walls are symbolic drawings. What appears to be a rug in the foreground is in reality a sand painting ormosaic. The mosaics of no two ceremonies are alike. In preparing them theIndian first sprinkles brown sand on the floor. Over this various colors of sandare laid, trickling through the thumb and forefinger. Usually the squash blossom,emblem of fertility and purity, and rain clouds in black appear in the decorations.The Hopi are an agricultural people living in a dry land and in their symbols andceremonies reference to rain is usually present. Digitized by IVIicrosoft®
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O IS Digitized by IVIicrosoft® Where Woman is the Perpetuator of the Arts The Indian woman was not only the originator of the arts among the nativeAmericans, but she has been the zealous perpetuator as well. Let it be basketry,pottery or, in some tribes, weaving, the skill is with the woman. Far over in northeastern Arizona is a little Hopi village ot tewer than 200inhabitants, seldom visited by the whites. It would be little known except forone household, whose fame is due wholly to Nampeyo—Nampeyo of the village ofTewa. Every student of Indian ceramics knows of Nampeyo, for she is foremostamong the Indians of today in the perpetuation of this art. It is probably safe tosay that the beautiful polychrome vases of this woman and her family are themost artistic among Indian products. In making pottery the Indian uses neither measure, model nor potters wheel.All is done from memory and with the hands. A few tools, hardly more than sticksand brushes made from yucca leaves, are the inst

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