Meeting People Kilted

[Riverkilt]

I've been wanting a better pic of my USA Kilts Macdonald Semi-traditional to show the tartan in good light. My lady snapped this when we were at the Hopi Cultural Center for lunch yesterday. Hopi Cultural Center is on Second Mesa, Arizona on the Hopi Reservation.



While we were eating a Hopi elder in his 80s was seated near our table with his granddaughter and great grandson. He was facing my lady and he started up a conversation with her. He wound up moving his chair over to our booth to disturb other diners less and improve his ability to hear.

He went into a long disertation about his Tobacco Clan membership, the Hopi dances coming up this month, the Hopi beliefs about their emergence. All very serious, yet open and kind. A real treat for us. He had a USN tattoo on his left forearm, from his age, guessing late War 2 or Korea era.

We talked about 15 minutes until both our meals came and he returned to his family to eat.

Later, as we left, he said, "Have a nice trip." We thanked him and explained we were locals. While he never mentioned the kilt he sure got a good look at it when we came in and I'd encountered his great grandson in the men's room earlier...most likely the boy said something to him about a guy in a kilt. I'm guessing he thought we were foreign vacationers and took the time to come over and be an ambassador of sorts for his people.

He may have come over if I was wearing pants, but I don't think so.

Ron

[McMurdo]

You are probably right, last night at the pub a bunch of us went to a gentleman came over to ask us why we were wearing kilts, and to comment on how much he liked seeing them. He would have never come over to discuss our jeans.

[Eujeankilt]

Pamela and I stopped there a few years ago on our four corners trip. The museum was very interesting and the artwork in the gift shop was outstanding. Too rich for our wallets, though.

Out in the parking lot we witnessed an incident with typical ignorant tourists and semi-wild Indian dogs. The tourists were afraid for their lives and the dogs just wanted a hand-out.

We were suprised at the list of restrictions posted coming onto Hopi land. At least they have the good sense to let you know what's not OK before you make a fool of yourself.

Dale

[Riverkilt]

Yup, my lady keeps a BIG tub of dog food in the back of her truck and feeds the rez dogs.

We were in my wheels and when she and I stopped by the rez dogs were all over us expecting chow. The ywell recognize her and maybe even me in the kilts.

As for the Hopi works of art, there is the tourist price... a hefty discount for locals...and a really good price dealing with the artists direct as my lady does. You just have to be VERY VERY patient.

Ron

[SnakeEyes]

This is actually a really great story, kind of like the Hopi Elder was one representative of "the old ways" sharing his stories with another. Good stuff.

[Panache]

Nice story Ron.

What is the significance of the stone you are posing next to in the picture?

Cheers

[Splash_4]

Ron, am I correct in stating that the stone is part of the petroglyphs that "the people" would leave as part of their travels?

[Riverkilt]

Its a petroglyph for sure (rock carving), not sure what it means or why its the centerpiece of the Hopi Cultural Center.

The gentleman we spoke with was quite educated from the way he spoke and the words he chose. He talked about how the Hopi's were told to wander and not miss seeing anything. We'd known of the Hopi wanderings. A lot of archeologists believe the Anasazi and other Southwestern groups that have "dissappeared" were in fact Hopi.

After 1200 years of wandering the Hopi returned to the mesas which they consider the center of the World.

The elder pointed this out but added something we didn't know. He said each time the Hopi moved on from an old cliff dwelling or other settlement they left all their pottery behind and when they established a new settlement they began decorating the new pottery they made in a completely different manner. He laughed and said, "We Hopi have been confusing archeologists for centuries."

Petroglyphs of course are open to interpretation by us Bahanas (Whites). I expect Hopi clan members can read them quite easily.

Ron

[Splash_4]

Thanks Ron! I was sure I knew what they were and the history behind them, but I have been out east for 20 years now. The memory fades with age! The lava flows around Albuquerque are filled with these. Unfortunately, the government is not doing an appropriate job of protecting these heritage sites and are letting developers build right next to them or destroy them.

Very sad. I also have travelled to many spots in the southwest specifically to see these drawings. One of my favorite places is Chaco Canyon and the mesa there is full of these drawings, including one that they believe is an early calendar.... Pretty amazing!

[Fearnest]

Thanks Ron! I was sure I knew what they were and the history behind them, but I have been out east for 20 years now. The memory fades with age! The lava flows around Albuquerque are filled with these. Unfortunately, the government is not doing an appropriate job of protecting these heritage sites and are letting developers build right next to them or destroy them.

Very sad. I also have travelled to many spots in the southwest specifically to see these drawings. One of my favorite places is Chaco Canyon and the mesa there is full of these drawings, including one that they believe is an early calendar.... Pretty amazing!

Just remember - "the government" can only protect what you decide is important to protect! The National Park Service only gets to protect those areas that fall inside its boundaries (established by Congressional legislation or Presidential proclaimation). And funding to protect within their boundaries is at the mercy of Congressional appropriations, too. There hasn't been a "real" increase in funding in way too many years!

Bottom line? If you want an area protected, band together with others who are like-minded and contact your Senators and Representatives (both US and state)!