Hopi Message to the State of New Mexico

THE NEW MEXICAN, Santa Fe 
December 16,1990 

Nature readying revenge, Hopi warn 

by Kay Bird The New Mexican Staff 

The signs are everywhere, the Hopi say: young men 
held hostage by the military to fight a war they want no 
part of; whales beaching themselves to beg mankind to 
clean the ocean; corrupt officials betraying the 
commandments of the Bible upon which they took their 
oaths of office. 

The signs, spoken of in tablets that serve the Hopi as 
a counterpart to the biblical Ten Commandments, warn 
that the end of this era is upon us. 

Martin Gashweseoma, an Elder of the Hopi tribe from 
Hotevilla, Ariz., brought the tablets dire message to 
Santa Fe last week, warning that if something is not done 
soon to prevent further natural and moral disaster, the 
Earth will cleanse itself of its pollutants - including the 
human ones. 

"If s time for all human beings to look at the things 
that have developed," Gashweseoma said through 
interpreter Thomas Banyacya during a gathering at the 
Eldorado hotel on Friday. "It is starting to get close to the 
last stages." 

The sacred stones are said to have been given to the 
Hopi people by Massau'u, the Great Spirit, when the 
Hopi people emerged from the underworld into the 
current world, which they consider to be Heaven. 



One of the dark brown, flat stones is about the size of 
an index card, the other about half that size. Both are 
about a quarter-inch thick and have symbols, lines and 
other figures scratched on them. 

Other people around the world also were given stones 
by Massau'u, Gashweseoma said; if they all come 
together, the world can begin moving toward purification. 

He said he does not know where the other stones are. 

The Hopi stand to benefit if the tablets' warning is 
heeded. As Gashweseoma and his companions see it, the 
more land that is returned to the Hopi, the better off 
mankind will be. 

Why? Because the tablets held by the Hopi are the 
closest thing to a deed from Mother Earth that any 
member of humankind can get to a deed from Mother 
Earth, Gashweseoma said. 

These tablets represent a title, an agreement with 
the Creator that gave them guardianship," said Tom 
Banyacya Jr., the interpreter's son. They're reasserting 
their authority to control that." 

"We're only caretakers of it." 

The tablets also contain the moral code that Hopi 
and all people are expected to live by, Banyacya Jr. said. 

The warnings come from the same spirit, he said. 

Gashweseoma carried the tablets, wrapped in a 
patterned cloth and tied to his waist, to Gov. elect Bruce 
King last week and asked for his help in repairing the 
world. 

Four appeals have been made, unsuccessfully, to the 
United Nations to improve the world, Gashweseoma 
said. 



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"Following the fourth appeal, a last chance has been 
given to America and it involves the capital at Santa 
Fe," Gashweseoma wrote in a letter to King. 

The Elders brought their national appeal from 
Arizona to Santa Fe because of the special significance 
New Mexico's capital has to the Hopi people, 
Gashweseoma said, 

Santa Fe, founded by the Spanish in 1610, was the 
first European capital among the Indian people. 

Banyacya said that a historic tablet such as the ones 
that Gashweseoma carries might be found in Santa Fe. 

The tablets, said Gashweseoma, have instructed the 
Hopi people to watch for signs that the world is on a 
dangerous course. He said the-final stage will be 
identified by famine, sickness, earthquakes and other 
natural disasters, and, finally, the buildup of "powerful 
weapons "destructive to all mankind. 



Eventually, the tablets warned, a "gourd full of 
ashes" would-be invented and dropped from the sky, 
causing the oceans to boil and the land to burn 

That event; which Gashweseoma and others 
interpret to be the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, 
precedes the Day of Purification, which will result in 
"either total rebirth or total annihilation," the brochure 
said. 

Gashweseoma was not entirely pessimistic about 
mankind's chances. 

"Once they start the cleansing of the land, then a new 
life that we've had before will revive," he said. "We 
were living in a land called Heaven. We hope that will 
be reestablished." 

The Associated Press Contributed to this story. 



The Public Statement of Martin Gashweseoma, Keeper of the Hopi Fire Clan Tablets, during his 
Mission to the New Mexico State Capital at Santa Fe, December 14, 1990: 



I am the keeper of the sacred Fire Clan tablets of the 
Hopi at the village of Hotevilla. These tablets represent 
our ancient title to this land, which existed long before 
the arrival of Columbus, and has never been relinquished. 
They have been entrusted to me under the highest 
authority, to be held until the last stage of our prophecies 
has been completed. The signs that we have entered that 
final stage are now clear. 

In fulfillment of my spiritual instructions I have come 
to Santa Fe, the oldest European capital on our land, to 
offer the people of the United States of America, and all 
humanity, a final opportunity to collaborate with the 
forces of creation to purify our lives, and restore peace to 
the world. 

The root cause of the problems that threaten life on 
earth is the concept of land title acquired and maintained 
by force. Since modem civilization is based on this 
concept, it does not hold the key to peace. 

Our original Hopi land title is based on permission. 
We received that permission from Massau'u, the guardian 
of all land and life, who holds it in trust for the Creator. 
Thus it is implemented by the forces that create this 
universe. 

Regardless of differences in culture and tradition, true 
aboriginal title throughout the world is based on a 
similar relationship. To usurp aboriginal title by 
deception and force, then build an empire upon that basis, 
is to oppose the forces of life, and ensure the eventual 
destruction of that empire. The United States of America 
has become such an empire. 

Before the White Man arrived from Europe, 
everything was in order. Our life was beautiful and clean. 
The land was green and there were plenty of flowers, 
animals, birds and trees, rain and clouds. We lived in 



great happiness because we followed the simple life 
taught to us by Massau'u. 

Massau'u is both a real person and a manifestation of 
the Creator. We met him in person near the place where 
we built our mother village of Oraibi, after a long 
migration to claim the land in his name. At that point he 
gave us permission to live here as caretakers, as well as 
the spiritual knowledge by which to keep the forces of 
life in balance. This knowledge is implanted in our sacred 
stone tablets. 

But when the Europeans came they forced their 
religion, culture and language upon our children, which 
brought great division among our people. As a result, 
today our young people are turning away from this basic 
law. They no longer understand it They only understand 
the White Man's law. 

Because they were forced into this situation, there is 
now hardly anyone fulfilling the sacred instructions and 
correctly performing the ceremonies essential to the Hopi 
way of life. There are still leaders from various clans 
who know of these instructions, which reveal their true 
purpose in life, but more and more they are turning away. 
This intrusion by outside forces, and the harmful effect on 
our function as caretakers of life, is the reason life on 
Earth is now so disturbed. 

Like the Hopi, original native peoples were placed 
across this continent, and given special instructions by a 
higher being. Each had special function? by whkh to 
hold life in balance, which they were still carrying out 
when the Europeans arrived. We know these foreigners 
once had similar spiritual means for promoting life, with 
which they were supposed to bless the native peoples. 
But they had apparently misused their power. Most of 
the native peoples were forcibly stripped of their culture, 
language and religious ceremonies, depriving them of 



34 



their function as caretakers. Those that remain face 
imminent cultural extinction. Clearly these foreigners are 
not here to help, but. to destroy everything the original 
people have left, and in doing so, destroy this world. The 
only hope for humanity lies in restoring true land title, 
which is inseparable from our function as caretakers of 
life. 

For this reason we bring our sacred stone tablets to the 
New Mexico State Capital in Santa Fe. Because it is the 
first foreign capital on this land, there must be documents 
here that confirm the rights of the original native 
peoples, and possibly information regarding stone tablets 
such as those we brought with us. We want to see whether 
someone will search for such documents, proving whether 
the original title of the native peoples, including the 
Hopi, is still binding according to existing modern laws. 

The Spanish people must have documented something 
concerning the Hopi title. When the Mexican government 
took over, it must have left similar documents, and the 
same holds true for the United States. There must be a 
whole stack of such documents. If the entire stack were 
turned over the search should not take long. The first few 
should prove that the native peoples hold the true title 
to this land, and the knowledge by which it should be 
protected. 

The role the, foreigners were to play in protecting this 
land should also be revealed. Documents must exist that 
show where the United States tuned against this 
original law. What document does the United States 
have that says it is supposed to protect this area? 

The Spanish, the Mexican, and the United States 
governments have all fought over someone else's land 
without consulting the original, native peoples living on 
it, then created some kind of document But what of the 
rights of the original native peoples? Who has the 
ability to look into this, and see that the basic rights of 
the Hopi and other native peoples are restored? 

This is the key to the problem that threatens all life 
on earth. If someone can uncover this information and 
bring it before the world, it might be possible to reverse 
the destruction of the native cultures that lies at the root 
of the devastation that now threatens our entire world. 

The great powers of the modem world need to realize 
that if they are to escape the punishment that lies 
ahead, what they are doing to native peoples around the 
world must be corrected. Those who accumulate power at 
the expense of the native peoples think they have a God- 
given right; but in doing so they are increasing the threat 
to all life. And although they now recognize that threat, 
they are powerless to reverse it by any means unless they 
stop preying upon the native peoples. 

We came here to plant the seed of this realization, 
which could turn the course of all humanity away from 
disaster. An investigation within the area of the present 
Hopi villages would benefit all indigenous peoples. 
Moreover, those who now live at the expense of the 
native land title would thus be given the chance to correct 
their mistake, and avert the terrible consequences 
foreseen long ago by the Hopi, which are already in 



evidence today. Either way, this would benefit all 
humanity. 

Because our true original land title is essential to our 
role in holding this land and life in balance, we have 
never compromised that title by signing a treaty with the 
United States Government. We have never given it 
authority to destroy our culture and take our land, nor 
have the other original native peoples. Yet this is being 
done here and throughout the world. 

Today the Hopi are forced to live under laws that 
come from Washington DC, such asthose that created the 
Bureau of Indian Affairs and the so-called 'Hopi Tribal 
Council' without consent from the real Traditional 
People. In violation of our spiritual teachings, these 
agencies have been promoting paved roads, water lines, 
sewers and government-financed housing. They have even 
forced such things into Hotevilla, the village we founded 
in 1906 in order to protect the Hopi Way from such 
intrusions. 

They are cutting our land into small allotments, 
confiscating our livestock, and allowing the land to be 
stripped of its mineral resources. Underground water is 
being depleted and the land is drying up. Open pit 
uranium mines are polluting the area with radioactivity, 
causing the birth of many deformed babies. This shows 
what is happening to indigenous people around the 
world. 

Those who perpetrate such abuse, and the countless 
modem people who thrive from it, truly have no land 
title. They build their power through resources taken by 
force, then use those resources to gain power to take even 
more. Since they consider the true aboriginal title of 
indigenous peoples to be worthless, they treat us like 
animals to be kicked around. 

But as the Purification foretold in our tradition 
materializes, they too will get kicked around. They will 
find themselves disrespected everywhere, just as they 
have disrespected others, and their power will collapse. 
Soon they will see how little power and authority they 
really have. 

We hope they will heed our warning for their own 
sake, and for the sake of the native peoples who want 
nothing more than to rule themselves peacefully without 
being dictated to by anyone else. Part of the commission 
we received from the Creator through Massau'u is to 
sound this warning to the world. 

We Hopi know our true white brother is to come and 
help us. He has a stone tablet representing his own title 
and power within the Creator's plan. By placing it 
together with our Fire Clan tablet, he may call upon the 
natural forces to purify the world. If the task of 
purification is left to these natural forced, we may all be 
wiped out. So it is up to all people to purify themselves 
voluntarily. 

We have also known that if the wrong white brother 
should arrive, one who has lost his spiritual path and 
thus has no title, he would bring misery and destruction. 
But when the world problem becomes great enough this 



35 



false white brother will find his survival threatened. 
Where will he turn? 

He proposes to save the world by converting everyone 
to what he calls 'democracy,' but can he even use it to 
save himself? We hear that democracy means rule by the 
people. Yet he has reached the point where only three 
people, the President, the Secretary of State, and the 
Secretary of Defense, can start a war against-any nation 
that doesn't submit to their wishes, regardless of the will 
of the people, Congress, or existing laws. 

We Hopi don't know what the word 'democracy' 
means. The 'Hopi Tribal Council' established by the 
United States is supposed to be a democracy, but in fact it 
is only an instrument through which our people are forced 
to submit to programs conceived in Washington. Offers of 
money, jobs, a better life, and so forth, really mean signing 
away control over their land and their life. 

Such false democracy is being extended throughout 
the world. In the name of democracy the U.S. Government 
is taking control of native lands, exploiting the mineral 
resources to produce great wealth, then using that wealth 
to bribe native peoples elsewhere into accepting contracts 
to deforest their land. 

The deployment of armies to protect the freedom of 
native peoples abroad is causing the loss of that very 
freedom. It is the task of the Hopi to warneveryone 
concerned that even in the name of freedom, this will 
unquestionably lead to a third world war much worse 
than the first two, which may leave hardly any life on 
earth. This is why our religion forbidsus to join the army, 
even if we are drafted. 

Today the American people are being taught how it 
feels to be held hostage. That is how we have felt, 
having been held hostage up to the present day. In truth, 
everyone in that army is held hostage by the 
Government. Young people who want to live a long life 
are forced to suffer in the Arabian desert. We know that 
they are about to be burnt up in a war if they don't stop. 
It's up to the President to recall the troops he has sent to 
the Middle East. They must all be allowed to refuse this 
fate and return home. It is especially urgent that all 
native people who have become involved come home 
right away. 

Current education of the Hopi into modem ways is a 
continuation of the policy of forced acculturation that 
began when our children were first kidnapped and forced 
into schools. The attempt to convert the schools so as to 
promote Hopi culture damages Hopi culture even further. 
Instead of dancing at the right time of year in the plaza, 
the Hopi children are taught to do their dances in school, 
outside the natural cycle, ignorant of their significance, 
and without the traditional preparation by the whole 
family. 

This disturbs the very harmony these dances meant to 
maintain. Prior to such interference, our community life 
was held together by the relationship between the 
religious societies, each composed of a careful balance of 
the special qualities of each clan, dancing together with 
the cycles of nature. The disruption of this pattern 



accounts for the epidemic of delinquency and crime we 
witness today. 

We know the Government would like to wash its 
hands of the schools, but instead of closing them it tries to 
put them into the hands of 'progressive' Hopis who have 
already lost their tradition. They should simply close 
the schools and let us return to our original methods of 
educating the young, which were already very advanced 
- the real education from which we were torn away. We 
have no need to learn from books. We have better 
methods by which children can learn how to live in 
peace, identify plants and animal tracks, and ultimately 
learn to keep the world in balance. 

If the schools are closed, then those families who 
want their children to learn the English language would 
have to move out, earn money, and pay for that education 
themselves. This is what Yukioma was standing for when 
he brought the sacred stone tablets of the Fire Clan with 
him in 1906, and led the founding of our village at 
Hotevilla. 

There is a document by the Mennonite missionary, 
H.R. Voth, which testifies to the superior quality of 
education he witnessed among the Hoteviila children 
after the new village became established. They learn not 
only how to read the animal tracks, but many songs, 
dances, ceremonies and painting, all of which contribute 
to a very good memory, as well a solid understanding of 
the Way of Peace. 

The proof that this education really works is in the 
fact that we never needed jails, courts, police,' hospitals, 
or complicated systems of administration to keep things 
in check. There was hardly any sickness because we lived 
only from the food we grew organically, without 
chemicals. Any sickness that did occur could be healed 
with ceremonies and herbs. Even today there are old 
people so strong that when you try to follow them up a 
hill you can't catch up with them. 

Now, as our land is being gradually cut up by the 
government, this beautiful life is disappearing. The 
recent division of our land with the Navajos, which the 
United States enforces through its courts and police, is 
clearly a means to seize total control, even of that land 
supposedly granted to the Hopi. Those Hopis who are 
relocated onto new areas are only allowed to lease that 
land from the 'Hopi Tribal Council.' 

Only a few centuries ago there were no Navajos here. 
We were protected by the Paiute people to the north, who 
learned many words from our language. Later the Navajos 
arrived. Since they often survived by raiding, they 
became a problem to the Spanish and later to the 
American settlers. The Americans responded by rounding 
up all the Navajos under Kit Carson and putting them in 
prison. Later they gave them a portion of the Hopi 
homeland through the 1868 treaty. After it was learned 
that the land given to the Navajos contained valuable 
resources, instead of enforcing the treaty restriction that 
they remain there, the United States' just let them 
wander off, then created another reservation for them on 
land belonging to the Paiutes, and •moved the Paiutes out. 



36 



When the Navajos expanded onto the Hopi area, rather 
than force them back onto the Paiute land the 
Government made still another reservation for them on 
the Hopi land. 

With the discovery of mineral resources in that area 
came the passage of Public Law 93-531, which was not 
requested by the true Hopi leaders, but promoted by 
lawyers through the 'Hopi Tribal Council,' creating the 
illusion before the world that the Hopi have traded 
certain areas of their land over to the Government, or' 
approved mineral leases. 

Public law 93-351 divides our land still further, by 
requiring both Hopi and Navajo families to be forcibly 
relocated, and the artificial Hopi-Navajo border fenced 
with barbed wire. Our Elders have long warned of the 
time when a line might be drawn around our feet, granting 
us no more land than that, which really means we would 
have no land at all. This time is not far off. 

We want everyone to know that the Navajos are not 
the ones taking our land, but the United States. The Hopi 
and the Navajo made peace long ago, and sealed their 
agreement spiritually with a medicine bundle. It is 
through the puppet governments, the Tribal Councils' 
forced upon both nations by the United States, that the 
illusion of a conflict has been created on the basis of the 
false modem concept of land title. 

This short history shows how our land has been taken 
away. Why is this happening? It is done through younger 
Hopis, robbed of their tradition through compulsory 
foreign education, and arbitrarily empowered to speak for 
their whole nation through the 'Hopi Tribal Council,' yet 



never consult with their original leaders. Would you 
allow your children to sign away your family possessions 
without even letting you know? That's exactly what the 
'Hopi Tribal Council' is doing. 

Land title based on such deceit and coercion is theft 
from the very forces that gave us life. Since most of 
modem civilization is based on such false entitlement, it 
can only destroy itself. The severe problems that face not 
only humanity, but every form of life on Earth, serve to 
warn that the time of destruction is at hand. 

We can no longer escape. We must trace this situation 
to its root cause. This is why I act now to call world 
attention to the true nature of aboriginal land title, 
which alone holds the key to world peace. Hopi land 
title is based on our agreement with the Creator, the true 
owner of the land, through our meeting with Massau'u, to 
serve as its caretakers. This requires genuine knowledge of 
the pattern through which people can live together in 
peace without relying on the use of force. This way of life 
can continue forever. 

So for the sake of the indigenous nations that remain 
with us today, and all people who are moved to correct 
their ways and restore that harmony which can enable 
life in this world to continue, I have come to Santa Fe, the 
first European capital established on our land, to urge 
that those documents that might reveal the true nature of 
our title to this land be investigated and revealed, and to 
place our knowledge of the Way of Peace at your service. 

We hope that what we are asking will be brought 
about soon, and that those who sincerely wish to resolve 
this great crisis will make use of our knowledge.