4:41 mins. (i.e. 281 ft of 35mm film at 16fps). Not viewed.
Source: US National Archives, Motion Pictures 11738, local identifier 48.107
Background/ Content: This film is a compilation made by the US Department of the Interior and shows material shot in two different locations.
The first part concerns Acoma Pueblo, New Mexico and shows sheep being driven across a stream, houses and women baking bread.
The second part shows the Snake Dance ceremony as performed at the Hopi village of Wàlpi, Arizona, easily recognisable by the Snake Rock pillar in the village plaza.
The maker(s) of the film is/are unknown.
The National Archives catalogue suggests that the film was compiled at some point between 1916 and 1976. However, it is very likely that the material was shot some time before that as filming of the Snake Dance at Wàlpi was effectively banned after 1913. Lyon (1988) estimates that the film was made in the period 1905-1911.
Text: Lyon 1988:262.
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