Tuba (chief) facts for kids

Tuba (also known as Tuvi or Toova; born around 1810, died 1887) was an important Hopi leader in the late 1800s. He was the headman of a small Hopi village called Moencopi, which was about 50 miles west of the main Hopi villages on the mesas. Tuba was also a respected person in the village of Oraibi. Later in his life, Tuba joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). The town of Tuba City, Arizona, was named in his honor.

Tuba (Toova) and his band on the Moincoppee (Moenkopi)

Tuba's Early Life

Tuba was born in Oraibi, Arizona. His Hopi name was "Woo Pah." At some point, Tuba had a disagreement in Oraibi. Because of this, he left the village to find peace. After he left, he became known among the Hopi as Tuuvi, which means "the outcast" or "the rejected one."

Life in Moencopi Village

Tuba settled in a place called Moencopi, which means "Running Water." It was about 50 miles west of Oraibi. This area was important to the Hopi people because it had springs and streams. Before Tuba moved there, Moencopi was mostly used by Oraibi villagers as summer farming fields.

Tuba first settled in Moencopi alone with his wife. They lived there all year, making it a permanent home. Soon, other people from Tuba's clan followed him. Eventually, members of other clans also came, and a good-sized community grew in Moencopi.

Tuba once told a Mormon missionary that the people living with him in Moencopi became lazy. They refused to plant crops or take care of their animals. Tuba was very worried about this. He said that an old man with a long white beard appeared to him. The man told Tuba that he had a message from God. The message was that the people must plant and care for their animals. If they didn't, a three-year famine would come. Tuba followed the instructions and stored enough corn to last through the predicted famine. He believed the old man was one of three special men who would advise the Hopi when they were in trouble.

Visiting Utah

The first Mormon missionaries visited the Hopi people in 1858. It's not clear if Tuba was still in Oraibi or had already moved to Moencopi at this time. However, a very old man among the Hopi spoke of a prophecy. It said that men would come from the west. These men would bring back blessings that the Hopi had lost. This old man believed the Mormons were those people.

In 1860, Tuba met Mormon missionaries Thales Haskel and Marion Shelton in Oraibi. He invited them to live in Moencopi and build a wool mill. However, they returned to Utah.

Ten years later, in November 1870, Tuba and his wife, Pulaskaninki, traveled with Jacob Hamblin to southern Utah. Tuba wanted to learn about the Mormon way of life. Crossing the Colorado River was against a Hopi tradition. This tradition said Hopis should not cross the river until three prophets returned.

When they reached the Colorado River, Tuba looked sad. He told Hamblin that his people once lived on the other side of the river. Their ancestors had told them never to live west of the river again. Tuba then performed a ceremony. He prayed to the "Great Father of all" to keep them safe while crossing the river. He prayed for his friends, the "Mormons," and for their animals, food, and clothing. After the ceremony, they crossed the river safely.

Tuba stayed with the Mormons for almost a year. He met Brigham Young, who was the President of the LDS Church, in St. George, Utah. Tuba was very impressed by a factory that spun yarn using machines. In Hopi culture, men spin yarn by hand for blankets. Tuba said he could never spin yarn with his fingers again after seeing the factory. His wife was most impressed by the Mormon grist mills, which were much better than grinding corn by hand with stones.

The Sacred Hopi Stone

Even though Tuba had disagreements with leaders in Oraibi, he still had access to one of the Hopi's sacred stones. Once, when Mormons were visiting Tuba in Oraibi, he took them inside a village kiva. A kiva is a special room used for ceremonies. Inside, he showed them a marble slab. It was about 15 by 18 inches and had markings like clouds and stars. Later, a U.S. government report also mentioned this stone. It described it as "red-clouded marble," different from any other stone in the area.

Tuba City and Baptism

In 1873, Tuba again invited the Mormons to come and live near his village of Moencopi. This time, they accepted. A permanent Mormon settlement began in 1875. This community became the first Mormon settlement in Arizona. Hopi tradition says that Tuba invited the Mormons to protect his village. They needed protection from raiding Paiute and Navajo groups.

Tuba was baptized into the LDS Church in 1876. In April 1877, Tuba and his wife attended the dedication of the Mormon temple in St. George, Utah. Tuba also shared his new faith with Tom Polacca, a leader at Hano, who was also baptized.

In September 1878, Tuba helped plan the site for a new Mormon town near Moencopi. This town would be called Tuba City. Both Mormons and some Hopis moved into the new town. However, other Hopi leaders were not happy when Tuba gave the land for the town to the Mormons. In 1879, a wool factory was built in Tuba City. This factory was meant to help both the Native Americans and the LDS Church. This building likely reminded Tuba of the factory he had seen in Utah years before.

Tuba's Later Years

The settlement of his Mormon friends in Tuba City and the factory's completion may have been a happy time for Tuba. However, his last years were marked with sadness. The wool factory only operated for a short time. Within a few years, it was falling apart. People said that Tuba took special pride in watching over the factory's remains. After his death, the building was completely ruined.

Tuba died in 1887. Some of Tuba's children continued to live in Moencopi into the mid-1900s. In 1941, the LDS Church dedicated a sandstone marker with a bronze plaque in Tuba City. This marker honors Tuba.