Living Spirits of the Kachinam

LIVING SPIRITS OF KACHINAM By Paul Coze

There are many tribes of American Indians who lack cohesiveness in their thinking and their attitudes, because of different places of migratory origins, varied climatic factors, and communal systems, which have not produced similar ways of living, customs and habits.

The Pueblo community system (living in permanent dwellings of stone or adobe) such as the Zuni settlements of New Mexico and the Hopi villages of Arizona, has created a social structure unlike that of the nomadic or migratory tribes. Whether openly or secretively, tribal government, religion, clans, ceremonies and beliefs... all have evolved from the way of life of the Pueblo.

At a time in our history when all ethnic groups are experiencing a renascent awareness in their originative interest and rediscovering ancestral significance and identities, it is to be expected that the Hopi people should be worthy of a special study for they regard themselves as the first inhabitants of this continent.

This special issue deals with a part of the Hopi Way which is dominated by their religion and prophecies, and there are many things which cannot be interpreted nor communicated to non-Hopi people who are generally regarded as foreigners on the reservation and are welcome and tolerated according to the degree of their behavior and obligations as guests, who must accept with grace the many things they will not necessarily understand.

The author, his assistants and the editorial staff of this publication have tried to respect every wish and confidence of the Hopis, and have made no intentional attempt to expose anything sacred or secret to any individual or to any special clan. Throughout this presentation we have sought to create a mood, an interpretation of the "Hopi Way" always with respect, love and admiration for the Hopi people. An evaluation of the meaning and context of these pages has been made by fully initiated and tradition oriented Hopis who know their religion and prophecies and who are formally qualified to act as critics and censors.

Knowing of the author's interest and respect for their culture, many Hopis from different Mesas and Clans have made valuable contributions, many never presented before.

To all those who have volunteered their services and to all who have assisted in the preparation of this special edition . . .