SIPAPU

The Hopis' believe there is a lower and upper world. The entrance to kthe Hopi under world is through Sipapu (see-pa-poo). It is a sacred place known as a shrine located in the Grand Canyon area of the Colorado River. It is a mound with an opening on top.

Talavai (Morning Kachina)

The Morning Kachina is one of the most beautiful kachina that a young man wants to choose during his childhood to get into the realm of kachina dancing. This is normally called the "Hopi Initation" held in the kiva. Quite interesting, I might add.

"Ancestral Spirits"

Acrylic painting represents the following:

• TAWA (Spirit of the Sun) - The sun overlooks all things on earth (top).


• TALAVAI (Morning Kachina) - Sings songs and rings a bell to relay news of the past, present, and future (right).


• HAHAI-I (Hopi Grandmother) - She is present at most important dances and represents the Hopi people for the acceptance of our return to the under world (left-bottom).

Painted October 2002 by G.L. Dashee.