The tall mountains and steep mesas of northeastern Arizona
are home to the Hopi, "the ." Skilled farmers, they
devised dry farming methods to grow crops where water was
scarce. Their apartment-style homes are called . One of
the oldest settlements in the U.S., a pueblo called ,
still stands.
Daily Life
The Hopi were excellent builders. They made their homes
with and set doors high up on the rooftop. Entry was by
ladder. They live peacefully with the Navaho and shared
their farming, weaving, and jewelry-making skills with them.
spirits were a part of their daily life. Lessons passed
from parent to child using Kachina dolls.
A New Home
In the 1500s, sheep, goats, cattle and horses were introduced
into the Southwest by the . The soon became
expert shepherds and riders and conducted raids on the Spanish
and other neighboring peoples. During the 1700s, many Navajo
moved to the in northwestern Arizona, a fertile
region with steep canyon walls.