1971 Hopi leaders close their ceremonies to the public - who shows disrespect for the sacred rituals.

36 years after inventing the Smokis, they keep trying to convince everyone that the goal from the beginning was to "perpetuate as authentically as possible the dances and ceremonies of American Indians." --- As though they were always honorable and pure-of-heart. But the truth is, it was a gimmick to raise money for their rodeo, that was losing money, and the show was really a fundraiser that took off and developed a life of its own. 

1957, Aug 2  Tucson Daily Citizen 

1962 - Prescott still stealing the Hopis culture

1962, July 26  Arizona Republic 

1963 - someone told the truth -- that it was a fundraiser.

1963, July 16  Arizona Republic 

1963 - Hopi Ceremony .. the real deal.

1963, Aug 23  The Decatur Daily Review 

1965 - the fake imitators - The Smokis

1965, Aug 6  The Daily Tribune 

The Hopis call a Halt 

                                                                          1971, Aug 18  Arizona Republic 

The misbehavior of the average Anglo tourist at the Hopi ceremonial dances has long been so shameful that museum officials and others who respect Indian traditions did their best to discourage visitors from attending.
          But still they came -- rude tourists, ugly Americans demonstrating their crassness and ignorance before their original American hosts. Although the ceremonials are to the Hopi approximately what the High Mass is to Catholics, many visitors dressed and acted in a manner they would never think of dressing or acting in any church.

1971, Aug 18  Arizona Republic 

         As a result, Hopi leaders recently announced that their annual ceremonial dance at Mishongnovi would be closed to all outsiders. No longer will raucous tourists crowd out the Hopis who came to take part in the rain dances. No longer will the flower children and hippies, in their pseudo-Indian trinkets, be allowed to show disrespect for the sacred rituals. No more will visitors violate the explicit bans on photographs, drawings, or recordings during the ceremonials.
          We regret that the gentle Hopis felt compelled to take such a major step, for it penalizes non-Hopis equally, including that handful of tourists who appreciated what they saw. But we understand what drove the officials to their decision. And, in fact, we admire their determination that their sacred ceremonies not be allowed to develop into a sideshow for people who, many of them lacking reverence for their own religions, are unable to exhibit reverence for an ages-old culture.

Hopis Closed Snake Dance for Many Reasons 

Your editorial, "The Hopis call a halt" (Aug 18) was only partially correct.
          It is true that some tourists and hippies did not respect the ancient religious ceremony called the snake dance. Nevertheless, there are reasons more basic than this for closing the dance to outsiders.
          It became clear throughout the years that non-Indians were crowding out the Hopis and other Indians at these dances. It was similar to non-Catholics crowding out the Catholics at a High Mass.
          It also became evident that one of these days one of the old homes on top of the mesa would give way under the increasing amount of weight or spectators on them.
          In the past, the religious leaders and chiefs have objected to the taking of pictures of the snake ceremony. This included all drawings and recordings. Yet, someone among the visitors was always trying to do this.
          There was also a deep resentment against the Smoki organization of Prescott. The chiefs and religious leaders have objected to this commercialization of one of their most sacred religious ceremonies. They are correct in their objection and, thus, it would be wise if the Smoki organization ceased its activity.
          The matter that brought this to a climax was the action of the so-called Hopi tribal council. The council planned to build some 60 units of homes on the sacred religious grounds of the snake society. It seems to be the policy of the council, supported by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, to abuse the religious rights and traditions and ceremonies of the traditional Hopi chiefs and religious leaders of the tribe.
          At its deepest level, this major and historic decision of the Chief of Mishongnovi was a decision to preserve and protect the sacredness of this ancient religious ceremony.

1971, Sep 16  Arizona Republic 

          It would be well for the people of Arizona and of the United States to realize that the traditional chiefs and religious leaders are the real leaders of the Hopi people. It is they who have preserved and protected the Hopi Nation up to this time. They have accomplished this because of the faithfulness to these ancient and sacred ceremonies....
          It would be well if the council were abolished, for the council has only been a deadly parasite of the Hopi people.
          Although my father and I are ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we will continue to support these traditional chiefs and their right to practice these ancient ceremonies.
          -- Maj Caleb Holestwea Johnson, Chaplain USA, Ft Bliss Tx

1972 - The Smokis continue to play Indian.

1972, July 30  Arizona Republic