Hualapai people

Hualapai

Ta'thamiche, a Hualapai
Total population
1,353 (2000)
Regions with significant populations
Hualapai Indian Reservation
Languages
Hualapai, English
Religion
Indigenous, Christianity
Related ethnic groups
Yavapai, Havasupai

The Hualapai or Walapai (Hualapai: Hwalbáy) are a tribe of Native Americans who live in the mountains of northwestern Arizona, United States. The name is derived from "hwa:l," the Hualapai word for ponderosa pine, "Hualapai" meaning "people of the ponderosa pine". Their traditional territory is a 108 miles (174 km) stretch along the pine-clad southern side of the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River with the tribal capital located at Peach Springs.

The Reservation

The Hualapai Indian reservation, covering 1,142 square miles, was created by the Presidential Executive order of Chester A. Arthur on January 4, 1883.

The community is governed by the Hualapai Tribal Council which includes a chairperson, vice-chairperson, and seven other council members. Law enforcement is provided by the Hualapai Nation Tribal Police Department which came into existence in 2002. The department consists of a Chief Of Police, Deputy Chief, Criminal Investigator and 11 sworn, Arizona state certified Patrol Officers. Fire protection is provided by the BIA and the local volunteer fire department. Alcoholism and obesity are major problems among many Native American people, so there are community-wide anti-drug and anti-alcohol efforts.

Average temperature and precipitation

Hualapai
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     1.2   49 28     0.9   55 30     1.3   59 34     0.6   69 40     0.5   79 48     0.5   90 58     1.5   94 65     1.8   92 63     0.9   85 56     0.8   74 46     0.9   60 35     1.3   51 28 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation totals in inches Source: http://www.azcommerce.com/doclib/commune/hualapai.pdf
Metric conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     29   10 -2     22   13 -1     32   15 1     15   20 4     13   26 9     12   32 14     38   35 18     46   33 17     23   30 14     21   24 8     24   15 2     34   10 -2 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation totals in mm

Economy

Hualapai family, Grand Canyon Arizona

The tribal economy is based on tourism, river-rafting, cattle-ranching, hunting expeditions, and timber-cutting, as well as crafting of traditional and modern folk arts. Business matters are guided by the Hualapai Enterprise Board, a committee of independent, business-minded tribal members and non-members. Complete banking services are provided by Arizona's major financial institutions in Kingman.

Full-time employment is provided mostly through government programs.

Current growth

There has been rapid economic, social, and governmental progress.

• More than 200 new homes have been built recently.
• About 14 miles (23 kilometers) of town curbed.
• An improved community water and sewer system provides infrastructure for future growth.
• 300 streetlights were installed in 1999.

Taxes

State taxes

The state of Arizona does not tax Indian lands and Indian-owned property on reservations. Incomes of Indians residing on reservations are not taxed by the state if they are wholly derived from reservation sources. Indian people of Arizona are also exempt from state and local sales taxes on consumer goods purchased on the reservation, unless such taxes are imposed by the tribal government. However, the state of Arizona collects taxes from reservation residents on sales of gasoline, electricity, natural gas, and telephone service.

Federal taxes

The federal government does not exempt individual Indians from income taxes or other federal taxes.

History and culture

A Hualapai winter camp, photographed by Edward Curtis, 1907.

Ceremonies

Major traditional ceremonies of the Hualapai include the "Maturity" ceremony and the "Mourning" ceremony. Nowadays the modern Sobriety Festival is also celebrated in June.

Afterlife

The souls of the dead are believed to go northwestward to a beautiful land where plentiful harvest grow. This land is believed to be seen only by Hualapai spirits.

Traditional dress

Traditional Hualapai dress consists of full suits of deerskin and rabbit skin robes.

Hualapai language

The Hualapai language is a Pai branch of the Yuman–Cochimí languages, also spoken by the closely related Havasupai, and more distantly to Yavapai people. It is still spoken by most people over 30 on the Reservation as well as many young people. The Peach Springs School District runs a successful bilingual program for all local students, both Hualapai and non-Hualapai, in addition to immersion camps.

Traditional housing

Conical houses formed from cedar boughs using the single slope form called a Wikiup.

Reservation life

The Hualapai Reservation was created by executive order in 1883.

Hualapai bands and villages

The Hualapai were divided into seven bands, which were composed of several extended family groups, living in small villages:

• Mata`va-kapai (Northern People)

Villages: Hadū'ba, Hai'ya, Hathekáva-kió, Huwuskót, Kahwāga, Kwa'thekithe'i'ta, Mati'bika, Tanyika'

• Soto`lve-kapai (Western People)

Villages: Chimethi'ap, Ha-kamuê', Háka-tovahádja, Hamte', Ha'theweli'-kio', Ivthi'ya-tanakwe, Kenyuā'tci, Kwatéhá, Nyi'l'ta, Quwl'-nye-há, Thawinūya, Waika'i'la, Wa-nye-ha', Wi'ka-tavata'va, Wi-kawea'ta, Winya'-ke-tawasa, Wiyakana'mo

• Ko`o`u-kapai (Mesa People)

Villages: Crozier (amerikan. Bez.), Djiwa'ldja, Hak-tala'kava, Haktutu'deva, Hê'l, Katha't-nye-ha', Muketega'de, Qwa'ga-we', Sewi', Taki'otha'wa, Wi-kanyo

• Nyav-kapai (Eastern People)

Villages: Agwa'da, Ha'ke-takwi'va, Haksa', Hānya-djiluwa'ya, Tha've-nalnalwi'dje, Wiwakwa'ga, Yiga't

• Hakia`tce-pai/Talta`l-kuwa (Cane People ?)

Villages: Hakeskia'l, Hakia'ch, Ka'nyu'tekwa', Tha'va-ka-lavala'va, Wi-ka-tāva, Witevikivol, Witkitana'kwa

• Kwe`va-kapai (Southern People)

Villages: Chivekaha', Djimwā'nsevio', Ha-djiluwa'ya, Hapu'k, Kwakwa', Kwal-hwa'ta, Kwathā'wa, Tak-mi'nva

• Hual`la-pai (Pinery People)

Villages: Hake-djeka'dja, Ilwi'nya-ha', Kahwa't, Tak-tada'pa

Hualapai War

The Hualapai War was caused by an increase in traffic through the area on the Fort Mojave-Prescott Toll Road which elevated tensions and produced armed conflicts between the Hualapai and the European American. The war broke out in May 1865, when the Hualapai leader Anasa was killed by a man named Hundertinark in the area of Camp Willow Grove and in March 1866. In response, a man named Clower was killed by the Hualapai, who also closed the route from Prescott, Arizona to the Colorado River ports due to the conflict. It was not until William Hardy and the Hualapai leaders negotiated a peace agreement at Beale Springs that the raids and the fighting subsided. However, the agreement lasted only nine months when it was broken with the murder of Chief Wabyuma during a dispute with the Walker party over the treaty.

After the chief's murder, raids by the Hualapai began in full force on mining camps and settlers. The cavalry from Fort Mojave responded, with the assistance of the Mohave, by attacking Hualapai rancherias and razing them. The Hualapai began to surrender as whooping cough and dysentery weakened their ranks; they were led by Chief Leve Leve of the Yavapai people. The warrior Sherum, who was known for his tenacity as a warrior, later surrendered, thus marking the end of the Hualapai Wars in 1870. It is estimated that one-third of the Hualapai people were killed during this war either by the conflict or disease.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• Grand Canyon Skywalk
• Bat Cave mine
• Kiowa Gordon – actor in New Moon (movie)
• Lucille Watahomigie - Hualapai linguist

Sources

• Intertribal Council of Arizona (Hualapai)
• Hualapai Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land, Arizona United States Census Bureau
• Hualapai Tribe
• The Havasupai and the Hualapai
• Camp Beale's Springs – Mohave Museum
• Thrapp, Dan L. (1967). The Conquest of Apacheria. Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press. LCCC 67-15588. 

Further reading

• Billingsley, G.H. et al. (1999). Breccia-pipe and geologic map of the southwestern part of the Hualapai Indian Reservation and vicinity, Arizona [Miscellaneous Investigations Series; Map I-2554]. Reston, VA: U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey.

External links

• Grand Canyon Skywalk news
• Tips for Traveling to Grand Canyon West