Why the Salt is Far Away
A Hopi legend explaining why the Hopi must travel long distances to obtain salt. Long ago, salt was close to the Hopi villages. But a woman or a group of people violated a taboo involving salt — either by being wasteful, disrespectful, or by using salt improperly during a ceremony. The Salt Woman (or salt spirits) became angry and moved the salt deposits far away, to the Grand Canyon and other distant locations. Ever since, the Hopi have had to undertake long, dangerous journeys to gather salt, a sacred substance used in ceremonies and daily life. The story teaches respect for natural resource