The Hopi Pueblo Revolt of 1680

As told by Hopi artist Michael Kabotie years ago (now deceased)

It was the Spiritual leader Po’pay, A Tewa Indian, from the Pueblo of Oke’Oweenge who directed the revolution against the Spanish in 1680.

During his leadership the Spanish authorities found him to be a strong believer and practicerner of his Native way. He was often publicly punished along with other religious Elders in the Plaza. After much abuse and violence he had to leave his beloved Pueblo of Oke’Oweenge, now named San Juan Pueblo about 30 miles north of Santa Fe, New Mexico. He journeyed to Taos Pueblo about 40 miles north of Oke’Oweenge and there established his headquarters in planning his action against the Spanish.

His initial call for independence was not answered by all the Pueblos, among them the Hopi living on the western boundaries of the Pueblo Empire. Only after living many more years under the abuse and violence of the Spanish were most of the Pueblos convinced that Po’Pays call for revolution was inevitable. Runners were sent out again and again until the majority of the Pueblo leaders agreed to support the revolution.

On August 8, 1680, Po’pays messengers began the long marathon from Taos carrying the message of the revolution to the various Pueblos along the Rio Grande River and as far west as the Hopi Empire. The messengers carried the knotted strings to synchronize the date of the rebellion. Every morning one knot was untied until the last was untied and on that date all of the Pueblos from Oraibi to Taos would raise in arms against the Spanish.

But on August 9th two Tewa Tesuque youth messengers, Catua and Omtua, were captured by the Spanish and were the first to die for the cause. All the other Pueblos were advised immediately to up the date by one and thus the rebellion took place August 10th. The message and the adjusted date was quickly spread and the Hopi made their armed rebellion on the same date as their Rio Grande cousins to the east.

THE PUEBLO REBELLION

On the Hopi mesas four lone Franciscan Padres awoke that historic date to be surrounded by the warrior sectors of the Hopi. In Awatovi, the lone Padre Fray Jose de Figueroa of Father Concepcion was killed and the mission Dan Bernardo de Awatovi burned and torn down. In Shungopavy at the Mission of San Bartolome, warriors from the village of the Mishongnovi of the Squash Clan hung and burned Dray Jose de Trujillo, and tore down the mission. Shungopavy under the Priesthood leadership of the Sacred Bear Clan did not believe in violence and thus asked Mishongnovi Squash Clan to carry out the mission of eliminating the Padre. In Oraibi, at the Mission of San Francisco, Fray Jose Espeleta and Fray Augustine de Santa Maria were awakened and killed by the Kachina Yuwee, who during certain ceremonies still holds the scalp of the Frayers on his lance. Again, the mission was destroyed, ending the Spanish and Catholic rule among the Hopi.

REBIRTH OF THE HOPI WAY

Immediately following the rebellion, steps were taken to insure the rebirth of the Hopi way. In the village of Shungopavy, the Mother village of the Hopi, the Bluebird Clan took under the care a young lady from the Sacred Bear Clan who was heavy with child. Removing her from the main village corrupted with the influence of the Spanish and the violence of the Pueblo Rebellion, the Bluebird Clan cared for her until the child was born. At birth the child was baptized in the true Hopi way at the break of day and at an early age became the symbolic leader of the rebirth and revitalization of the Hopi Way.

The Bear Clan again became the undisputed Spiritual Leaders followed by the Kachina Clans. Hopi religious societies were restored and Society Priesthoods appointed as ceremonies and dances once again performed without threat and punishment. Elders could again sit in meditation and prayer-sessions to bless life and the Hopi Way and once again the Hopi values began to administer to the daily lives of the Hopis.

RECONQUEST

Twelve years later in 1692, DeVargas with his army of heavily armed men entered the Rio Grande Pueblo Empire, and with full vengeance fell upon our brothers and sisters to the east. The Tewa, Tano and other Tribes began to migrate among the Hopi telling of the horrors of the vengeance of the Spanish.

During this time many of the villages which were located in strategically weak areas of the mesas began to make their relocations to the mesa tops. Mishongnovi, Shungopavy and Walpi moved from the lower areas of the mesas and made new locations on the tops of the mesas. Shipaulavi was established as a colony of Shungopavy, and represented by all the important Clans from Shungopavy. It was referred to as “The Seed Village”, in case the Spanish were to eliminate the Hopi. It would be the “Seed People” of Shipaulavi who would rekindle the Hopi Way.

General DeVargas visited the Hopi Villages in November 1692 and reopened the Mission Saint Bernard de Awatovi, the hated symbol of suppression and dominance.

THE HOPI REVOLT

Remembering the cruelties and abuse suffered at the hands of the Spanish, the Hopi once again united and with their new allies from the Rio Grande Pueblos attacked Awatovi on a November night in 1700. This second Hopi Rebellion put Awatovi and its San Bernardo Mission into oblivion forever. The women folks and children were distributed among the other Hopi villages to be taught the teachings of the Hopi Way. Once again, the threat of Spain was neutralized and the Hopi continued.

In 1776, 96 years after the Pueblo Revolt, Father Francisco Garces visited the Hopi Mesas and found himself at Old Oraibi on July 4th. On that very day that the representatives of a new American Nation were proclaiming their independence in Philadelphia, the Hopi were re-affirming the Hopi Way with a Kachina Dance, who still prevail today.

Many thanks to Neil David and Ron Pecina who collaborated on the book “Neil David’s Hopi World,” and for letting us use their paintings.