At the end of the nineteenth century, very few tourists had ever seen the Hopi Snake Dance. Many, however, had heard tales of a dramatic ritual that only occurred every other year in isolated Indian villages in Arizona. This religious ceremony that Victorian society found so horrifying—and so fascinating—soon grew into a symbolic representation of “Indian Country” in the Southwest.

The Passenger Department of the Santa Fe Railway played upon sensationalist, tourist visions of American Indians when it published Walter Hough’s travel guide to The Moki Snake Dance. The guide describes Hough’s text as a “popular account of that unparalleled dramatic pagan ceremony” with “incidental mention of their life and customs.”

Hough’s report focuses on this one unusual aspect of the Hopi religion, emphasizing it and subordinating the normal day-to-day activities of pueblo life of the Hopi. The tourist industry promoted this contradictory view of Southwest Indians. On the one hand, the Hopi were shown as a peaceful people, who made elegant, hand-crafted objects. But on the other hand, the Snake Dance proved that these peoples were true “savages” at heart, in spite of their peaceful appearances. This duality captured the imaginations of elite visitors and provided a popular motivation for treks to the Southwest.

Today, the Hopi Snake Dance is closed to all non-natives. There was a time before the 1990s when tourists were allowed to witness the Snake Dance, but no longer. There was also a time when Hopi carvers would not carve a pair of Snake Dancers, but that has relaxed somewhat now and some carvers will make them.

This pair was carved by Tino Youvella of First Mesa. They are entirely carved from cottonwood root. They were most likely carved in the 1990s but they are not dated so that cannot be ascertained for certain.

Reference and Recommended Reading: The Moki Snake Dance by Walter Hough, PhD. Published by The Passenger Department of The Santa Fe, 1901. A reprint published by Avanyu Publishing, Albuquerque is available as a complimentary addition to the purchase of these dolls.

Recommended Reading: The Moki Snake Dance (click here to view details of book) by Walter Hough, Ph.D. (Available from Adobe Gallery)