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Havsuwʼ Baaja (Havasupai)

Total population
About 600 (2004)
Regions with significant populations
Supai, AZ
Languages
Havasupai, English
Religion
Indigenous, Christianity
Related ethnic groups
Yavapai, Hualapai

The Havsuw’ Baaja (Blue Water People), or more commonly the Havasupai (aka Ahabasugapa, Havasooa Pa’a, Yavasupai, Suppai), are an American Indian tribe that has called the Grand Canyon its home for at least the past 800 years. Located primarily in an area known as Cataract Canyon, this Yuman-speaking population once laid claim to a land reservation the size of Delaware.^[1] In 1882, however, the tribe was forced by the federal government to abandon all but 518 acres of its land. The Havasupai witnessed a silver rush and the Santa Fe Railroad in effect destroyed what was fertile land. Furthermore, the inception of the Grand Canyon as a National Park in 1919 pushed the Havasupai to the brink, as their land was consistently being unlawfully entered and misused^{[citation needed]} by the National Park Service. Over the next century the tribe used the United States judicial system to fight for the restoration of the land. In 1975, after years without progress, the tribe succeeded in regaining 251,000 acres of their ancestral land with the passage of Congressional bill S. 1296.

Besides their battle on Capitol Hill, the Havasupai are well known for the area in which they reside. As a means of surviving and flourishing in the modern economy the tribe has turned its land, which consists of richly colored waters and awe-inspiring waterfalls - like the Havasu Falls (Havasupai: Havasuw Hagjahgeevma^[2]), the second waterfall in the canyon - into a bustling tourist hub that attracts thousands of people every year. Additionally, they lend their name to Havasu Creek and the Havasupai Trail.

History[link]

Pre-1882[link]

Throughout the centuries the tribe has relied heavily on agriculture, hunting, and gathering as a means of survival. Although living primarily above and inside the Grand Canyon which normally contains harsh terrain, the tribe’s reservation actually was home to some of the most lush vegetation and beautiful waters that the world has to offer. Their name, which means “the-people-of-the-blue-green-waters,” was by no means an aberration.

The Havasupai are said to have existed within and around the Grand Canyon for over eight centuries. Little is known about the tribe prior to their first recorded European encounter in 1776 with Spanish priest Francisco Garces.^[3] Garces reported seeing roughly 320 individuals in his time with the Havasupai, a number that would diminish over the centuries as westward expansion and natural catastrophes significantly decreased the population size,^[4] before rising to approximately 600 in the current era.

In the first half of the 19th Century, with exception to the introduction of horses by the Spanish, U.S. westward expansion affected the Havasupai less than it did other indigenous populations of the west. Even as interaction with settlers slowly increased, day-to-day life did not change much for the tribe until silver was discovered in 1870 by Cataract Creek.^[5] The migration of prospectors to the area was unwelcome. The Havasupai sought protection from the intrusion of western pioneers on their land and sought out assistance, but to little avail. An executive order by President Rutherford Hayes in 1880 established a small federally protected reservation for the tribe, yet it did not include the mining areas along the Creek (Hirst, 1985).

During this era, Havasupai relations with other Native American tribes were generally mixed. Bonds and interactions with the Hopi tribe, whose reservation was in close proximity, were strong, as the two peoples did a great deal of trading with each other.^[1] The Hopi introduced crops such as the gourd and sunflower that would eventually become a staple of the Havasupai diet. Still, the Havasupai were not without enemies as they were consistently at odds with the Yavapai and the Southern Paiute, who would steal and destroy crops planted by the Havasupai.^[1]

1882–1920[link]

In 1882 President Chester A. Arthur issued an executive order that all land on the plateau of the canyon, which was traditionally used for winter homes for the tribe, was to become public property of the United States.^[5] The order in effect delegated the Havasupai to a 518-acre (2.10 km²) plot of land in Cataract Canyon, leaving 90% of their aboriginal land for American public use. According to reports, the Havasupai were completely unaware of the act for several years.^[6]

The loss of almost all of their land was not the only issue that the Havasupai were contending with: the increase in the number of settlers in the local region had depleted game used for hunting and soil erosion (a result of poor irrigation techniques) touched off a series of food shortages.^[6] Furthermore, interaction with these outsiders sparked a deadly disease outbreak amongst tribe members who were ravaged by small pox, influenza, and the measles.^[6] By 1906 only 166 tribe members remained, half the number Garces saw when he first came across the tribe in 1776.^[4]

In the 1800s the continental railway system was being greatly expanded and in 1897 construction opened on a spur line of the Santa Fe Railroad which was to lead directly to the Grand Canyon.^[6] By 1901 the line was open and in 1903 President Theodore Roosevelt made his famous visit to the Canyon, where while hiking down the Bright Angel Trail he came across several Havasupai whom he ordered to leave the area immediately^{[citation needed]}. The President told them that their home was to be turned into a public park for all American citizens to visit and admire.^[6] It took some years, but in 1908 the Grand Canyon was declared a national monument, and by 1919 it had received National Park status.

1921–1975[link]

Issues regarding health within the Havasupai population reduced its growth to the point where almost an entire generation was lost due to infant and child mortality. Low morale spread throughout the tribe, leading to an increase in gambling, alcoholism, and violence. As the years progressed the Havasupai came to realize that they could not hope to survive in their American social situation without embracing at least some aspects of it. Breaking horses, working on farms, or even serving as employees of the Grand Canyon National Park were all options for tribe members.^[5] The Havasupai fought to keep their methods and traditions alive, but the federal government and the National Park Service generally held a dismissive attitude toward these efforts and accelerated the pace of actions such as razing residents' traditional homes and replacing them with cabins.^[6] As similar instances transpired throughout the years, the methods of the Park became clear: they wanted the final 518 acres (2.10 km²).^{[citation needed]}

In this period the tribe continually fought with the government to have the land that had been taken returned to them. In 1968 the tribe won their Indian Claim Commission case against the United States.^[7] The court findings stated that the Havasupai had portions of their land taken from them illegally in 1882 and that the tribe was entitled to recover the land from the US at fair market value (ICC 210). That value ended up being 55 cents an acre, totaling just over one million dollars. Although the case was a landmark for the Havasupai in the sense that it was proven in a court of law that the federal government had inappropriately taken their land, it had still not been properly returned to the tribe.^[6]

However, the momentum that the Havasupai gained from the ICC case followed them into the 1970s as the tribe continued to fight to have the 251,000 acres (1,020 km²) beyond their official reservation returned to them. In 1974, garnering support from the Nixon administration as well as influential newspapers such as the Los Angeles Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the San Francisco Chronicle, the tribe made their push to have the congressional bill S. 1296, which would actually return their land, passed through Congress.^[6] Months of deliberation and stalling on the part of some congressmen^{[citation needed]} almost led to the demise of the bill, but days before Congress went on fall break the bill was finally passed by both Houses and made its way to the President’s desk. Similarly, the bill sat on President Gerald Ford’s desk until the final possible moments before it was signed and passed into law on January 4, 1975.^[6] S. 1296 granted the Havasupai a trust title to 160,000 acres (650 km²), and the other 90,000 was chosen to be overseen by the National Park Service, but was available for use by the Havasupai.

Mining interests also had a presence in the canyon in this period. Tunnels are a familiar sight in the campground area with the deepest of them around 300 feet (91 m). The largest of the mines is in Carbonate Canyon, adjacent to Havasu Falls, where rails and timbers still can be found descending three levels. Lead was mined here for the last time during WWII. Ranger Gale Burack, who worked at Grand Canyon, wrote of her experiences in the miners camp where the campground now resides (Arizona Highways, September, 1984). Below Mooney Falls, the famous pipe "ladder" ascended to a vanadium deposit.

1976 – Present[link]

Following the return of a large share of their land, the Havasupai as a tribe have once again begun to flourish. Although many of the day-to-day customs that existed prior to 1882 are not well established today, the Havasupai have continued to respect and preserve the traditions of their ancestors. As of today the tribe consists of 639 members, and around 200 others claim Havasupai heritage.

Presently the tribe has begun to take advantage of the beauty of its land by turning it into a tourist destination for visitors to the Grand Canyon. By paying a relatively large sum visitors are able to experience the wonders of the blue-green-waters and their surroundings. Tribe members often work as packers and/or workers for tourist ventures, or work at the lodge, tourist offices, the café, etc.^[8]

Habitat[link]

Agriculture[link]

Prior to modern times agriculture was the essential means of progress and survival for the Havasupai. While in the winter the tribe members stationed themselves on the plateau of the canyon, in the summer irrigation gardening of the crop fields brought the members back inside the canyon walls.^[4] As vast and uneven as the Grand Canyon is, it is somewhat of an anomaly that the Havasupai were able to agriculturally sustain and thrive in such a voluminous landscape. Because of a lack of available soil rich in nutrients, it has been suggested that the tribe cultivated only 200 acres (0.81 km²) of land on the canyon floor.^[1] Although lacking space, the tribe’s irrigation technology was far more advanced than others in the Southwest which allowed them to be agriculturally intensive. However, being located at the bottom of a canyon left the fields vulnerable to flooding as a result of rain and the overflowing of Cataract Creek, as was the case in 1911 when almost an entire crop yield was destroyed.^[5] In 1920 to combat the issue the federal government assisted the tribe in constructing a new irrigation system which was generally effective in ceasing soil erosion from water overflows.^[1]

Historically the main crops for the Havasupai were corn, beans, squash, sunflowers, gourds, and some cotton. Corn, the tribe’s main crop, was generally harvested in the later summer months. While growing, a farming technique called cepukaka was used to protect the corn from being blown over when it got to a certain height. In this technique, a farmer loosened the soil around the corn and then pulled it into a hill around the stalk base.^[1] Along with their traditional crops, the Havasupai were introduced to melons, watermelons, and orchard trees with the arrival of the Spanish. By the 1940s these crops had become staples of the Havasupai diet.^[1]

Hunting[link]

The bow and arrow were of primary importance to a Havasupai hunter. Built from an unidentifiable tree, an entire process of crafting, bending, and designing went into the construction of these hunting tools.^[1] With westward expansion, however, came the introduction of the rifle; as years went by, the gun became the primary hunting device for men. The word for "arrow" began to stand in for "bullet" as well (Whiting, 1985).

Throughout the years, sheep and deer were the dominant game for the Havasupai, but small game including rabbits and squirrels were also used as food.^[1] Historically, the Havasupai hunted in large groups, and the distribution of game amongst the hunters was generally fair. In the twentieth century, however, due to overhunting and neighboring development, the populations of large game animals such as sheep became sparse. As a result, the Havasupai were forced to alter their hunting habits to adjust to the expansionists, which in turn made tribesmen less likely to share with others.^[1]

Gathering[link]

The gathering of wild plants and seeds were typically done by Havasupai women. Two primary methods were used: 1) Knocking seeds from plants directly, and 2) The heads of plants were gathered before the seeds were ready to fall.^[1] It was desirable for the women to locate lighter foods which could easily be moved to the plateau in winter. Additionally, dry foods that could be stored for extended periods of time to prevent spoilage were preferable.^[1] Walnuts, wild candytuft, and barrel cacti were only a few of the many plants and seeds gathered by the women throughout the spring and summer months.^[1]

Modern culture[link]

Havasu Falls

Government[link]

A seven-member tribal council, which handles most policy matters, is elected once every two years. It is led by a chairman who is elected from among the members of the council. The Tribe is governed by a seven member Tribal Council democratically elected by the people. The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is the entity charged with law enforcement and protection for the Tribe, while the Indian Health Service clinic provides health care and emergency services.

Language[link]

A young Havasupai girl, circa 1900

Havasupai is a dialect of the Upland Yuman language spoken by over 500 people on the Havasupai Indian Reservation in and around the Grand Canyon. It is the only Native American language in the United States of America spoken by 100% of its indigenous population. The Havasupai variety is nearly identical to the variety of the Hualapai, although the two groups are socially and politically distinct (Kendall 1983:5) and are also written differently. The speakers of Havasupai and Hualapai consider their languages separate. It is a little more distantly related to the Yavapai language. Grammatical descriptions, vocabularies, and texts documenting Havasupai have been published (Mithun 1999:578).

Supai[link]

The "Watchers" overlook Supai

Supai (Havasupai: Havasuuw) is the name of the Havasupai city located at 36°14′13″N 112°41′21″W / 36.23694°N 112.68917°W / 36.23694; -112.68917 at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. The town is the capital of the Havasupai Indian Reservation, at 36°09′40″N 112°36′48″W / 36.16111°N 112.61333°W / 36.16111; -112.61333 in Coconino County. It is home to around 500 of the tribe members and is one of the most remote cities in America, as it can only be accessed by taking the Old U.S. Route 66 and traveling about 60 miles (96 km) along BIA Road 18 to the trailhead. The city can be reached from the trailhead via a helicopter ride or an 8 mile (13 km) hike. The town has 136 houses, a café, a general store, a tourist office, a post office, a school, an LDS chapel, and a small Christian Church, among other buildings.

Tourism[link]

Tourism is the main source of revenue for the Havasupai tribe. The town receives on average 12,000 visitors per year, and locals now restrict the number of reservations to cut down on overcrowding. The Tribe charges for entering its land, and also visitors are required to purchase a reservation if they plan on camping. The Tribe also offers a mule service to carry passengers, luggage, or both down to the campgrounds. There is also an outside contractor that offers helicopter rides which start at Hualapai Hilltop and end at the café. The Tribe receives a royalty for this service, and as part of the agreement the members get to ride at a reduced rate whenever they want and the contractor brings down much of the supplies for the town. The Tribe also offers a small lodge where visitors can rent rooms. Furthermore, the Tribe sells fast food from its diner, products from the general store, and other items such as T-shirts and pins.

Havasupai Trail[link]

Havasupai Trail

The trailhead is located at Hualapai Hilltop, Arizona (which is located at the end of BIA Road 18), where there is a large parking lot, a heli-pad, portable toilets, and the main office for the Havasupai. The trail can be traveled by foot, by horseback, or on a mule service the Havasupai offer. The mule service can also be purchased for luggage/packs only, which allows an easier hike and the ability to bring down more luxuries. The trail starts out at the hilltop, where it switch-backs down the side of the canyon for about ¾ of a mile. This is by far the most difficult part of the trail, and is much more difficult on the way back up. The trail is approximately 8 miles (13 km) long to Supai, with an extra 2 miles (3.2 km) added on in order to reach the campgrounds, and descends some 3000 vertical feet (914 m).

Havasu Creek[link]

The Havasu Creek is the life blood of the Havasupai tribe and their main source of tourism dollars.

See also[link]

Indigenous peoples of North America portal

• Grand Canyon
• Grand Canyon National Park
• Havasu Creek

References[link]

• “Depositions of Big Jim, Billy Burro, Supai Mary and Allen Akaba,” Records of the Indian Claims Commission, Havasupai Tribe, Docket 91, August 4, 1950, RG 279, National Archives.
• Kendall, Martha B. 1983. "Yuman languages". In Southwest, edited by Alfonso Ortiz, pp. 4–12. Handbook of North American Indians, William C. Sturtevant, general editor, Vol. 10. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.
• Mithun, Marianne. 1999. The Languages of Native North America. Cambridge University Press.
• Braatz, Timothy. “The Question of Regional Bands and Subtribes among the Pre-Conquest Pai (Hualapai and Havasupai) Indians of Northwestern Arizona.” American Indian Quarterly 22(1) (1998): 19–30.
• Dobyns, Henry F., and Robert C. Euler. 1999. “Bands of gardeners: Pai sociopolitical structure (discussion).” American Indian Quarterly 23 (3): 159–74.
• Hanna, Mark. Man of the Canyon: An Old Indian Remembers His Life. Edited by Richard G. Emerick. Orno, Maine: Northern Lights, 1992.
• Hirst, Stephen. Havsuw ‘Baaja: People of the Blue Green Water. Tempe, Arizona: Walsh and Associates, 1985.
• THE HAVASUPAI TRIBE OF THE HAVASUPAI RESERVATION, ARIZONA, THE NAVAJO TRIBE OF INDIANS v. THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 20 Ind. Cl. Comm. 210 (1968). Havasupai Indians, edited by David Agee Horr, 343–356. New York: Garland Publishing Inc., 1974.
• Whiting, A.F. Havasupai Habitat. Tucson, Arizona: University of Arizona Press, 1985.

Further reading[link]

• "I Am the Grand Canyon: The Story of the Havasupai People" Hirst, Stephen, Arizona Press 2007
• "A dictionary of the Havasupai language". Hinton, Leanne. Supai, Arizona 1984.
• "Gwe gnaavja". Havasu Baaja / Havasupai Tribe, Bilingual Education Program. Supai, Arizona 1985.
• "Havsuw gwaawj tñudg siitja". Havasupai Bilingual Education Program. Supai, Arizona 1970s(?).
• "Baahj muhm hatm hwag gyu". Hinton, Leanne et al., prepared by the Havasupai Bilingual Education Program. Supai, Arizona 1978.
• "Tim: Tñuda Hobaja". Hinton, Leanne et al., prepared by the Havasupai Bilingual Education Program (authors credited as "Viya Tñudv Leanne Hinton-j, Rena Crook-m, Edith Putesoy-m hmug-g yoovjgwi. Clark Jack-j"). Supai, Arizona 1978–1984.

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Havasupai

• Official Havasupai Home Page
• Grand Canyon NP Home Page
• ASU Grand Canyon Website

Coordinates: 36°12′10″N 112°42′11″W / 36.20278°N 112.70306°W / 36.20278; -112.70306

With Friends Like These... is a 1998 film by Philip Frank Messina. It stars Robert Costanzo, Jon Tenney, David Strathairn and Adam Arkin, and features a cameo by Bill Murray.

Summary[link]

In the film, four small-time two-bit character actors (Costanzo, Tenney, Strathairn and Arkin), all close friends, are competing for same important part in the next Martin Scorsese mob film.

Cast[link]

• Adam Arkin - Steve Hersh
• David Strathairn - Armand Minetti
• Jon Tenney - Dorian Mastandrea
• Robert Costanzo - Johnny DiMartino
• Amy Madigan - Hannah DiMartino
• Laura San Giacomo - Joanne Hersh
• Elle Macpherson - Samantha Mastandrea
• Lauren Tom - Yolanda Chin
• Beverly D'Angelo - Theresa Carpenter
• Ashley Peldon - Marissa DiMartino
• Allison Bertolino - Dana DiMartino
• Bill Murray - Maurice Melnick
• Frederika Kesten - Catrice
• Carmine Costanzo - Nino DiMartino
• Heather Stephens - Babette
• Martin Scorsese - Himself

External links[link]

• With Friends Like These... at the Internet Movie Database.
• With Friends Like These... at AllRovi

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