1954: "The leaders are at a loss to understand why the white man expects everyone to show deep respect for his religion but would show a total disregard and disrespect for the religion and sacred ceremonies of others."

March 13, 2017

Hopi, Smoki Dance Dispute Leads to New Threat
1954, Aug 3 Arizona Republic

Prescott - The Smoki organization of Prescott and Hopi Indian religious leaders squared off in a new battle over the white man's imitation of sacred Hopi rituals here last night.

The bear clan of the Smoki -- composed of the present and past chiefs of the Smoki, and the Smoki Council - met in special session to consider a new Hopi protest.

Seven of the Hopi leaders warned they might close all of their ceremonials to the public, including the world famous snake and kachina dances, if the Smoki doesn't call off plans to present their version of the Hopi bean dance.

The Smoki, composed of Prescott business men and civic leaders, planned to stage the bean dance as part of their annual program this coming Saturday night.

The chief of the bear clan, prior to last night's meeting, said there is never any attempt on the part of the Smoki to ridicule or belittle serious Indian ceremonies.

"It is all very serious," he said. "Variations are made purposely to make certain there is no chance for any of the passages to be considered grotesque or other than serious."

The Chief, like all Smoki chiefs, remained anonymous.

The Hopi group had an entirely different version of the white men's plans.

Said Thomas Banyacya, interpreter for seven Hopi leaders:

"The bean dance is one of our most sacred ceremonials. It is not to be used for mere show or making money. It belongs to the Hopi and must be performed on the Hopi mesas at the proper time, and by the proper leaders, who know what it is all about."

"If the Prescott people go ahead with this, it may lead to closing to all white men of any or all future Hopi ceremonies on the mesas, including the snake dance.

"The leaders are at a loss to understand why the white man expects everyone to show deep respect for his religion but would show a total disregard and disrespect for the religion and sacred ceremonies of others."

Banyacya said the bean dance was even more sacred than the snake dance. It opens the kachina dance cycle in February each year.

The Hopis have filed numerous protests in the past over Smoki activities but all have been ironed out....

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1954, Aug 3 Arizona Republic

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A response to the Hopi trying to stop the Smokis from mocking their religious rites.

Don't Defeat the Goal

1954, Aug 4. Arizona Republic

The Smoki people of Prescott -- a civic group dedicated to preserving and presenting southwestern Indian lore -- are having trouble with Arizona's Hopi Indians. This is not the first time the Hopis and the Smokis have not seen eye to eye, and it probably will not be the last.
The Smoki organization, which usually stages a colorful imitation of the famous Hopi snake dance, plans to present its non-Indian version of the Hopi bean dance on Saturday. The Hopis objected, on grounds that it is one of their most sacred rituals, "and must be performed on the Hopi mesas at the proper time by the proper leaders..."

A temporary truce has been worked out. But the Hopis originally maintained that they may close all of their public ceremonies if the Prescott group persists in adapting Hopi rituals for exhibition purposes, even though the Smoki organization has never ridiculed or cheapened the Indian rites it presents.

Both sides in the controversy have acted in good faith, but the present course can lead only to an impasse. The Hopi position is strengthened by deep-seated, ancient religious beliefs which are the very basis for existence of the Smoki organization. One of its chief functions is a continuing effort to preserve the Indian heritage of the Southwest.

In view of those circumstances, perhaps, it would be better if the Smokis honored Hopi wishes in the matter of the proposed bean dance. Prescott would still have its colorful annual snake dance imitation. That alone is a major concession for the religious Hopi people.

1954, Aug 4 Arizona Daily Star

So what did the Smoki do???

1954, Aug 3 Arizona Daily Sun

The fake tribe that's all about preserving and honoring Native American traditions and ceremonies said they sympathized with the Hopi, but their dances are done with the utmost respect for them and their culture, and they never do it with any intent to mock... soooooooooo...... they're going to continue as planned and go ahead and hold that sacred bean dance - and all the other sacred dances everyone has been complaining about for 30 years. [ Sorry not sorry. ]

And there are the Smoki performing the very sacred Bean Dance - completely wrong and in blasphemy. The article said the only thing the Hopi didn't like about it was that it was the wrong month... information the Hopi's provided earlier in the year when they were trying to explain all the reasons why the Bean Dance belonged to the Hopi Nation, and should NOT be imitated.

1954, Nov 7 Albuquerque Journal

The Smoki gave the Hopi two Kachina masks, "as a token of friendship," which is ironic.. since it's their dance and a copy of their mask. The Hopi are asking them to stop - the Smoki says no - and then gives them an imitation copy of their own culture in an effort to make nice. I doubt they fell for it.