Hopi Indian History

The Autry Partners With KCET on the Original Series 'I Am the West'

Los Angeles, CA (July 25, 2011)--The Autry National Center has partnered with KCET, the  nation's largest independent public television station serving Southern and Central California, to create an original television series entitled I Am the West. The series of one-minute stories begins airing in August of 2011 and will take a glimpse into the lives of people that reflect the rich culture and innovations of the American West.  A web portal will also launch simultaneously at kcet.org/iamthewest with extended features that will mine the vast collection of the Autry National Center.

"The Autry's partnership with KCET is a fitting extension of the Autry galleries, where stories of people and places are told," said Daniel Finley, Autry President and CEO. "This series will add another dimension to the way we explore history and culture in the West and I am excited to see the finished product on air and online."

I Am the West was conceived by the Autry's Director of Exhibition Media, Paula Kessler, and her in-house production team, which is in the process of creating 18 one-minute segments focused on the extraordinary and unexpected stories of individuals. The subjects, locations, and points of view will be as broad and diverse as the West itself. Subjects explored by Kessler and her team for Autry exhibitions comprise the initial offerings and set the tone for the following installments, which feature rock climbers, community activists, artists, entrepreneurs, and culture bearers.

"I Am the West seeks to show how the West makes us who we are and influences what we do specifically because we make the West our home," said Kessler. "In each episode, we see how the culture and unique experiences of life in the West inspires and challenges these fascinating people."

Among the featured stories will be those of Ruby Chimerica, who makes traditional piki bread in her piki house on the Hopi Reservation; Japanese American artist Aki Sogabe, who explores her art using traditional paper-cut techniques; artist Buff Elting, who explores the landscape of Colorado through her painting using aerial photography; and photographer Luis Garza, who has led the effort to bring the story of muralist David Alfaro Siqueiros's time and impact on Los Angeles to light.

"The Autry National Center is the perfect partner for KCET as they focus on the story behind each object and artifact displayed in their galleries," said Juan Devis, KCET's Director of Production and Program Development. "The Autry's dedication to telling the diverse stories of the American West opens up a wide array of narratives about people and places that are not only are fascinating but also reach out to viewers in an intimate and enlightening way.

Daily Kos: Indians 101: Hopi Migrations

In 1540 Francisco Vásquez de Coronado began his journey north from Mexico seeking the legendary Seven Cities of Cibola. He had with him a force of 330 Spaniards (most of whom were mounted soldiers) and 1,000 native allies. After conquering Zuñi Pueblo, Coronado sent an expedition under the command of Captain Pedro de Tovar to make contact with the Hopi.  The Hopi met the Spaniards at the town of Kawaika-a with coldness. The Hopi were in battle formation and drew a line on the ground with sacred corn pollen telling the Spaniards not to cross it. There was a short battle that was won by the Spaniards. At this time there were an estimated 29,000 Hopi who lived in several well-established villages, many of which were defensively located on mesa tops.

One of the most important features of Hopi social organization is their clans: matrilineal, named, exogamous, family units. Matrilineal clans mean that each member of Hopi society belongs to a single clan and that clan membership is the mother’s clan.  Being exogamous means that clan members may not marry people from the same clan.

The Hopi migration stories are histories of the Hopi clans. According to Hopi traditions, the clans migrated independently, arriving in the Hopi homelands at different times and from different directions. The clan name often reflects an episode in the clan’s migrations. Each clan has its own stories about its migrations across the Southwest and their arrival at their present villages.

There was often a pattern of settling down, building villages and preparing new fields for their corn and other plants. Then would come another migration. When an area was abandoned, the remains of the Hopi ancestors were left behind. These ancestors are important as the weather patterns—something very important to dry land farmers—are controlled by spirit ancestors.

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