During the migration period, the Hopi clans established
themselves throughout the land by cultivating and caring for the
earth. As directed by Ma'saw, the setting of Hopi "footprints"
included establishment of ritual springs, pilgrimage trails,
shrines, and petroglyphs. As they migrated they left behind the
graves of their ancestors, ruins, potsherds, grinding stones,
and other artifacts to pay the mother earth for use of the area,
and as evidence that they had vested the land with their
spiritual stewardship, fulfilling their pact with Ma'saw. These
archaeological sites today constitute monuments by which Hopi
verify clan histories and religious beliefs, and provide
physical proof that they have valid claims to a wide region.
Yes, this is the way it is. Ta'a, yanhaqam. Today, the Hopi,
with a population of about 8,500, occupy 12 villages on three
mesas on a reservation in northern Arizona. The Hopi tribe is
also concerned about sites in adjoining areas that were occupied
by Hopi ancestors during the clan mig