The Religions Book

51

See also: The spirits of the dead live on 36–37 ■ Beliefs that mirror society 80–81

T

hrough their ritual songs

and dances, the Hupa

tribe of northwestern

California believed they could

renew the world, or “firm the earth,”

and revitalize the land to ensure

sufficient resources for the coming

year. One of their most important

world renewal dances, held every

autumn, was the White Deerskin

Dance. The purpose of the dance

was to re-create the actions of the

the Kixunai, or First People, the

Hupa’s mythical predecessors.

By replaying the sacred

narrative of the Kixunai, the Hupa

hoped to tap into the powers of

creation in order to safeguard the

health of the people and guarantee

abundant stocks of game and fish

for the hunting season. During the

dance, which lasted ten days, the

elaborately decorated hide of an

albino deer—a symbol of great

wealth and status—was displayed.

Participants paddled along the

river in dugout canoes every

morning and danced every

afternoon and evening, holding

deer effigies aloft on poles.

The First People

The Kixunai were believed by

the Hupa to be human in form

but extraordinary in character.

Whatever the Kixunai did became

the predestined custom of the

unborn Hupa race. So every detail

of Hupa daily life was mapped out

by the activities of the First People.

According to Hupa belief, the

Kixunai later scattered across the

ocean, leaving only the mythical

being Yimantuwinyai to assist

people in their life on earth. ■

PRIMAL BELIEFS

IN CONTEXT

KEY BELIEVERS
Hupa

WHEN AND WHERE
c.1000 CE,
northwestern California

BEFORE
c.900–1100 CE Ancestors
of the Hupa arrive in
northwestern California from
subarctic regions to the north.

AFTER
1828 The first contact is
made with American trappers;
around 1,000 Hupa live in the
Hoopa Valley at this time, and
trade furs until the beginning
of the Gold Rush in 1848.

By 1900 The Hupa population
is reduced to about 500 as a
result of disease.

1911 The first modern Hupa
Tribal Council is formed.

Today More than 2,000 Hupa
live as a self-governing people
on their traditional lands.

[The Kixunai] painted

themselves and danced there

one night. The next morning

they danced again.

Hupa myth

OUR RITUALS

SUSTAIN

THE WORLD

RENEWING LIFE THROUGH RITUAL