1976: 53 years later, and the Hopi are saying the same thing: "The ceremonial is as sacred to us as your church services, your Easter sunrise ceremony, for instance, are to you."
1976, Aug 19 - the Hopi Elders issue snake-dance rules for non-Indian spectators. "The ceremonial is as sacred to us as your church services, your Easter sunrise ceremony, for instance, are to you."
[Sound familiar?] Check out my post from 1923: "What Easter signifies to the Christian world, what the Feast of Passover is to the Jews, so is the snake dance to the Red Man." The Hopis had been saying the EXACT - SAME - THING for 53 years! And yet, the Smoki's (and by 1973, many others) were copying indigenous ceremonies - and no one listened. No one stopped.
The Elders rulers were:
1. Automobiles must stay in parking area
2. No liquor
3. No photography, recording devises, or sketching of the dances
4. Visitors will stay in the visitor area
5. Remember that this is a sacred ceremony. Act respectful.
Sounds simple enough...
1976, Aug 19 Arizona Republic |
1977, June 29 Arizona Republic |
1977, May 1 The Los Angeles Times |