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What are Kachinas? There are hundreds of Hopi Katsinam, "personations" of supernatural
beings, important animals and ancestors who help the Hopi people raise
their crops, their children, and their spirits. The Katsina dancers are
men wearing masks--each of which represents a particular Katsina--and
paint and feathered costumes. Everyone in the village, aside from the
children, knows that the Katsina dancers are actually men from the
village, though Katsinam are still believed to have supernatural powers.
Much of the value in these dances is found to be instructing the young.
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 Kokopelli
is probably the most well known Kachina. He is known as
the hunchback flute player who plays to bring rain and also to
attract women. Kokopelli is a fertility god. He is a baby maker,
and his hump, along with his pouch, is filled with beautiful
gifts to distribute to the women he attracts.
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 Left
Hand Warrior: Siyangephoya has overcome many
challenges because he is left-handed. Because his gear is
reversed, he must use his right hand to draw an arrow or to
shoot his bow rather than his left, which is normal for
other Kachinas. Despite his odd behavior, he is an excellent
hunter and valued by the tribe.
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 The
Lizard is a valuable fighting Kachina who is
also viewed as an advisor in uniting sweethearts.
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 Medicine
Man: There are not many versions of this Kachina. He possesses
the power to cure and prevent sickness by mixing herbs. Most
tribal members go to him for advice.
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 The
Morning Singer This Kachina represents early morning or
dawn because he appears at dawn during the Bean Dance and
announces the news. He sings songs to wake the village while
passing out bean sprouts for the people to eat.
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 The
Mudhead is one of the most well known Kachinas and can take the
place of any other Kachina during a ceremony. He is
reddish-brown and is said to have been painted with mud from the
bottom of a sacred spring. Mudheads play many different roles;
dancers, drummers, announcers, singers and clowns. The Mudhead
also plays games with the audience during rest periods between
dances. They represent flexibility. |
 There
are several types of Ogre Kachinas. The most common is the White
Ogre, which represents good. The Black Ogre is
used to threaten small children when they misbehave. He is
called the boogeyman.
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 OWL:
This Kachina is beneficial to agriculture because he destroys
harmful rodents. He symbolizes intelligence, wisdom and a good
hunt. The Owl appears in the Mixed Dances. He is best known for
his interactions with the Clown Dancers. He watches the Clown
Dancers' poor behavior with strong disapproval. When the Clown
Dancers are finished performing, the Owl Kachina whips them with
yucca blades to punish them.
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 During
the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, the Indians of New Mexico and Arizona
revolted against the Catholic Church in an attempt to retain
their religious freedom. Legend states that a Hopi named Yowe
killed and beheaded a Franciscan priest. After this incident,
the Hopi referred to Yowe or the Priest Killer
as an Ogre Kachina who had the power to punish others.
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 Rainbow
Kachina Doll: This extremely colorful Kachina represents
the desire for peace and harmony between tribes. |
 RAM:
The Ram is a game animal said to have the power to cure the ill
and bring rain. |
 In
the beginning, Raven was first and foremost a
Creator and Trickster god, especially of the Haida (Northwest
Coast) tribe, who claim he discovered the first humans hiding in
a clam shell and brought the humans berries and salmon. Raven is
also the long-suffering victim of arch-rival in trickery, the
Coyote.
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 Red
Tail Hawk functions more as sergeant-at-arms or policeman. In
this role they either enforce an action, such as community
cleaning, or as guards to prevent the approach of anyone or
anything to the proximity of a location or ceremony. When the
Red Tail Hawk appears with other Guard or Warrior Kachinas in a
group they are functioning as warriors. They surround the more
sacred Kachinas as a small but ferocious army of fearsome
creatures.
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 Road
Runner: This Kachina dances for the gods to bring rain,
which is essential for the growth of crops. He also protects
homes by warding off witchcraft. |
 The
Snake Dancer is rare and his ceremony is considered to
be one of the most sacred. When a snake is found, this Kachina
captures the snake and dances with it, usually in his mouth.
When the dance is completed, the Kachina returns the snake to
its home and sends a message with the snake to Mother Earth
requesting that she grant their wishes.
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 The
Snow Kachina represents the snow and the cold moisture
that covers the land and helps the crops in the springtime. The
inner process of winter provides the foundation for
enlightenment in the spring. |
 The
Squash is a Chief Kachina for the Pumpkin Clan. There
are few members of this clan left and their stories are not very
well known. This Kachina is a wise spiritual leader. He also
appears as a runner on First Mesa.
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 The
Standing Buffalo Warriors is not a dancer, but
is responsible for an adequate food supply for the winter.
Buffalo Warriors usually appear in action, as though they were
hard at work
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 The
Sunface Kachina represents the spirit of the
sun and is considered one of the more powerful Kachinas because
the Sun is thought to be the brightest and largest of all the
stars.
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 The
Three Horn Kachina is a warrior who dances
furiously, making pleasant and rhythmic sounds. He is a guard
Kachina and represents swiftness and action. |
 The
Warrior Kachina is a very important war Kachina
and acts as a guard to secure the village.
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 The
Mouse is not a dancer,
but is a hero of a Second Mesa
legend. A mouse undertook the
task of ridding the village of a
pesky chicken hawk. He did this
by taunting the hawk and
eventually tricking him into
diving onto a stake. He is known
as the Warrior Mouse.
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 The
White Cloud Kachina represents the beauty of
the clouds and brings moisture for the crops.
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 The
Wolf is considered a great pack hunter who helps and
guides the hunters on large combined hunts by using his great
knowledge to find and capture game animals. The Wolf Kachina
appears in the Mixed Dance and the Water Serpent ceremony. After
these dances the Wolf is offered cornmeal or prayer feathers so
the tribe may learn from him and secure game on their hunt. As
hunters, the Wolf Kachinas navigate the earth, the stars, and
the sea. They alert others to danger. |
 Zuni
Rain Priest: This Kachina is said to have power over
the rain, but his main purpose is to accompany the Shalako
during the Rain Dance. |
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