Naming a baby was very important and was done by the relatives and tribal leaders, not the parents.  When a Southwest Hopi baby was 20 days old, the father’s mother and sisters would come with blessing and give suggestions to name the baby.

A young child spent most of its first years strapped to mother.  When the baby became older the other relatives would watch over the child and begin to teach the child the tribal ways.  The girls would practice preparing food, making pottery, basket weaving, and sewing.  The boys would learn to hunt and make tools and weapons.  After a child would reach puberty, the girls would go off with the women, and the boys would have to pass a test of courage.

 

created on April 15, 1998

edited on April 22, 1998
by Pam Eck, IUPUI