The Coconino sun., 1923-05-11

HOPI INDIANS STAGING
DANCES OVER STATE

w. D. ONeil, famous publicity man
and lecturer for Arizona, is now start
ing on his third tour of the United
States, telling the people of the ma
ton of the wonders, beauties and le-
gends of Arizona. And this time he
is taking with him a troupe of ten
Hopi Indians, who are giving tribal
ceremonial and war dances, which in
the past have never been given off the
reservation.
Mr.. O'Neil and his Indians arrived
in the city yesterday, after perform
ing at the big Shriners ceremonial in
Tucson, and gave two performances at
Camp Little last night.
He has made arrangements with the
management of the Nogales Theatre
to give one show at that popular play
house at nine o'clock tonight, at which
time Chief Little Eagle and his COM
pany will give four of their dances,
the Corn Dance, harvest thanksgiv-
ing dance; the Eagle Dance, prayer
for rain; the eagle being the Hopi rain
bird; the Buffalo Dance, prayer for
snow, and the Victory war dance.
In the company beside Chief Little
who have never before been off the
Hopi reservation. Old Jack Chemo-
weyeh is over 70 years old, and sings
Indian love songs, and dances steps
which are the envy of many young
flappers.
Mr.. O'Neil's purpose in taking the
Indians for tour of the country is
primarily for the purpose of adver-
tising Arizona, and after short tour
of the state, he will arrange full eve
ning's program, and will accompany
the dances with description of their
meaning to the Indians, and will de-
liver his famous lecture "The Ro-
nance of Arizona" which he has de-
livered already over 100 times in over
80 cities of the United States and two
provinces of Canada, and which lee
ture has been given credit for Won
derful results in attracting tourist
travel to Arizona during the past win
ter.
1t is anticipated that the Nogales
Theatre will be packed this evening to
see the dances, which tourists come
thousands of miles each year to wit
ness in the Hopi tribal ceremonies,
and it is to be hoped that the people
of Arizona will back Mr.. O'Neil in his
work, as he is an enthusiast on Ari-
zona, her beauties and traditions.
Mr.. O'Neil is accompanied on. his
trip by Wesley Hill, prominent busi-
ness man of Phoenix, who states that
in 1901 he taught school at Washing
ton Camp.
The ten Hopi Indians visiting No
gales, and who will appear at the No
gales Theatre tonight, will be joined
by about thirty more Indians, includ-
ing their squaws and papooses, be-
fore they start on their tour of the
United States. There will be suf-
ficient number in the party to make
up special Pullman car.
The Indians slept last night in the
city auto park. They are members Of
the same tribe who annually, in Au-
gust, put on the Hopi Indian Snake
dance north of Flagstaff, which at
tracts hundreds of people from
throughout the world. In 1912 the
late President Theodore Roosevelt
was among those at the snake dance.
Every year the famous cartoonist,
Jimmy Swinnerton, attends the snake
dance. SWlnnerton, VINO is auChor OF
Little Jimmy" is resident of Flag
staff, and sends his drawings from
that place to the big city papers.
One of the Indians in the party
here now is more than 80 years Of
age and this is the first time he was
ever off the reservation. On Sunday
in Tucson he was out on the streets
selling his picture Another member
of the party named Jack is more than
70 years old and is "still in love- it
was announced last night at Camp
Little as he was getting ready to do
the Glove dance" After he got start
ed Jack forgot his words and had to
go back to his wickiup and freshen his
memory. The Butterfly and War
dances were among. those staged last
night around huge bonfire at the
target range.-Nogales Democrat