How Often Do You See This? Hopi Kiltmaking Class

[Riverkilt]

So I'm reading the current Navajo Hopi Observer - a local newspaper. There's a display ad for Hopitututqaiki - The Hopi School 2013 Summer Arts Program Classes.

One of the listings is for June 3 - June 28 Monday - Friday 8am to Noon. Hopi Kilts: Austin Lomatewama Learn to weave Hopi Kilt (Pitkuna). Looms, tools and strings are included with paid tuition. Class is limited to three students and students must be initiated. Tuition $240

Must be initiated means into a Hopi clan. Men make the Hopi kilts - which are actually a skirt. Think they translate them as kilts to insure they are identified with the masculine. But...no pleats in a Hopi Kilt. 80 hours of teaching...only $3 an hour.

Would love to learn it but I ain't initiated and these are very sacred traditional garments so as a Bahana they ain't gonna teach me - even if I could take the time off.

If Hopi kilts are new to you here's a bic of two black ones during a Buffalo Dance.



More often they are white as this youngster is wearing.



For those knowledgeable, yes...cameras are usually not welcome on the Hopi unless you're Hopi. Both these pics were taken with permission of the Hopi.

Anyhow, I think its a fine compliment to the masculinity of our Scottish kilts that the Hopi men would want to translate their word for their garment - Pitkuna as Kilt.

[CMcG]

....

For those knowledgeable, yes...cameras are usually not welcome on the Hopi unless you're Hopi. Both these pics were taken with permission of the Hopi.

Anyhow, I think its a fine compliment to the masculinity of our Scottish kilts that the Hopi men would want to translate their word for their garment - Pitkuna as Kilt.

That is very interesting and I'm glad that you had permission to take those photos.

As for calling the pitkuna a kilt, I think that reflects the general usage of the word "kilt" that is captured by the Oxford English Dictionary:

"A part of the modern Highland dress, consisting of a skirt or petticoat reaching from the waist to the knee: it is usually made of tartan cloth, and is deeply plaited round the back and sides; hence, any similar article of dress worn in other countries."

The origins of the word are from Highland attire, but it has come to be used for other types of male unbifurcated garments. Much to the chagrin of some traditionalists

[Riverkilt]

And while Hopis have clans, like we do, the initiated man is expected to weave his own pitkuna/kilt. It is a deeply spiritual process for them. They don't pass it off to the womenfolk as a chore, rather embrace the process in a spiritual manner.

[tundramanq]

The whole process from raising the sheep to the finished Pitkuna is done on the reservation. Outsiders rarely get to see even the Hopi Snake dance part of the ritual. They only take place on the sacred Hopi mesas. I was lucky as a kid and my stepdad was half Cherokee and doing business with the Hopis, and we were invited. I have a lot of respect for the Hopi people. They are of the few tribes that fully retain the ancient ways, are very honest and adopt use of the modern "white man" technology.

[Riverkilt]

Been lucky enough to be invited to see a few Katsina dances and some social dances up on the mesas. Amazes me how over 100 Katsinas can be all using their gourd rattles together, and when they stop they stop in total unison. Not one pebble in one rattle is late. When I'm at dances on the mesas is when I'm called "Mike." "Hi Mike is the common greeting since I'm kilted. There's another Bahana on the Hopi that wears kilts. So to the Hopi a kilted Bahana is Mike.

Also noticed that the clowns wear their kilts in a jaunty manner...almost like we wear Utilikilts.