Charles Loloma Sterling Silver Corn Row Inlaid Bracelet

Corn is at the heart of Hopi life and rituals. It is the sustenance of the Hopi people, physically and spiritually, and is integrated into every aspect of their lives. Corn is used in many ways to create food, from piki bread to blue corn dumplings (pevelpiki). The corn is used to make ceremonial hominy stew, to wrap cornmeal with various meats using the leaves, to create various types of ground corn puddings using the husks, and to wrap prayer feathers. The kernels are ground into fine cornmeal used in countless dishes. It is rare to find a Hopi meal that does not include corn. A perfect ear of white corn is placed with a newborn baby to symbolize the Hopi connection to corn. A child is given another perfect ear of white corn during their initiation. Cornmeal is used for prayer, to feed the spirits, and in every ceremony. The ceremonies and prayers are for moisture to ensure good crops of corn and other vegetables to sustain Hopi life. And finally, at the end of life, cornmeal is used to send a person off on their journey to the next world. Sonwai (Verma Nequatewa)