
Hopi Origin Story
Special | 4m 21sVideo has Closed Captions
Many Native American peoples share a belief that they emerged from the earth.
Many Native American peoples share a belief that they emerged from the earth. For the Hopi and other Pueblo peoples, after they emerge they meet the caretaker of the earth who instructs them to honor Mother Earth by taking care of her. They are instructed to walk to the world’s farthest corners, to learn the earth with their feet and to find their Center Place.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Funding is provided by Partnership with Native Americans.

Hopi Origin Story
Special | 4m 21sVideo has Closed Captions
Many Native American peoples share a belief that they emerged from the earth. For the Hopi and other Pueblo peoples, after they emerge they meet the caretaker of the earth who instructs them to honor Mother Earth by taking care of her. They are instructed to walk to the world’s farthest corners, to learn the earth with their feet and to find their Center Place.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
How to Watch Native America
Native America is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
Buy Now

Journey Through Native America
Explore Native America through geography, cultural artifacts and storytelling.Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship(fire crackling) (singing in native language) WOMAN (speaking Hopi): (singing continues) (singing continues) WOMAN (speaking Hopi): WOMAN (speaking Hopi): (fire bursts) ♪ ♪ WOMAN (speaking Hopi): ♪ ♪ WOMAN (speaking Hopi): ♪ ♪ NARRATOR: In their origin story, after they emerge from the earth, the Pueblo are given a sacred quest-- find the Center Place.
LEIGH KUWANWISIWMA: So, some clans went clockwise and some clans went counterclockwise.
And as the clans migrated, they placed an insignia where they were at that particular time and place, which is a spiral.
♪ ♪ WOMAN (speaking Hopi): ♪ ♪ (men chanting, fire crackling) (scraping) ♪ ♪ NARRATOR: Chaco was a place where people came together from vast distances.
KUWANWISIWMA: Chaco was a culmination of many years of learning and knowledge, and perfecting their ceremonies.
NARRATOR: People share knowledge and beliefs based on thousands of years of observing their world.
Ceremonies to influence the very forces of nature.
They are still practiced today.
Support for PBS provided by:
Funding is provided by Partnership with Native Americans.