Sacred waters and shared knowledge of the Hopi Tribe

November 21, 2024

For many living in the arid Southwest, water is sacred; water is life. Recently the Hopi Tribe, independent cultural resource advisors, and the USDA Forest Service honored that spirit when they came together for four days to restore an ancient spring.

Long before the Grand Canyon got its English name and became a tourist destination, the Hopi Tribe referred to the land as ‘Öngtupqa,’ translating to ‘Salt Canyon.’ Salt Canyon is an integral part of their spiritual homelands and where their ancestors emerged into this world as part of their creation story.

The Hopi people were nomadic across the desert landscape. Life-giving water guided their migrations. For the Hopi Tribe and many tribes in the dry southwest, water is sacred and needs to be protected.

Click on the link below for the full story:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/features/sacred-waters-and-shared-knowledge-hopi-tribe