The Hopi Native Americans
As found In Day 10 of the G.P.D.
By Jean Smith
quote: “Like many First American peoples, the Hopis have
rejected Christianity, not because they reject Christ. They reject
the people who bring Christ along with the dominant culture.”
“Language is the heart of culture. If you lose it, you
lose your culture,” said Kuwaniwisiwma, Hopi Cultural Preservation
Director, at a recent conference. Kuwaniwisiwma grew up in the
1950s speaking Hopi as his first language. He adds that boarding
schools in those days were intent on seeing the Hopi language
and culture vanish directly and indirectly. Those well-intentioned
efforts to re-direct the First Nations into the dominant culture
were a form of cultural invasion. These efforts backfired. The
results have been a loss of identity and self-esteem, high rates
of suicide, substance abuse, and criminal arrests among Hopi youth.
The Hopi people of northern Arizona are attempting to counter
the negative effects of cultural invasion in two ways. Alarmed
by a recent survey that showed no Hopi youth under 19 speaking
the language, elders created Hopi Literacy
Workshops. Reintroducing the language is one way to reach
the youth. Schools that serve predominantly Hopi populations are
beginning new efforts to curb substance abuse before it starts.
Vincent de la Garza of the Sobriety Training Institute reeducates
the total school faculty and staff in their approach. “Teachers
cannot cure parents,” hes aays.“Prevention for children
is the only hope.” Like many First American peoples, the
Hopi have rejected Christianity, not because they reject Christ.
They reject the people who bring Christ along with the dominant
culture. Pray that God will raise up Christians who will use the
Hopi language and culture as a bridge to Jesus.—JS
“I am my lover’s
and my lover is mine.” Song 6:3 In the New Testament we
are admonished to “fix our eyes on Jesus.” Heb. 12:2
When we gaze upon the beauty of our Savior, who loves us with
an everlasting love, the significance of Solomon’s words
comes home to us: He is ours and we are His. He claimed us as
His “bride” before we claimed Him as our “groom.”
We did not choose Him, but He chose us and loved us, and then
set us free that we might love Him in return. He chose us “to
go and bear (lasting) fruit” (John 15:16). Unlike the love
between a man and his wife, the love between Jesus and His disciple
is meant to be shared with many others. This way His love can
spread throughout the earth.
Father, may Christ’s beauty be in
us so that those who don’t know Him may come to know Him
intimately.
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