“Ladder Dancer”
The present Hopi pueblo of Shung-opovi has occupied its present site since about 1700. Previous to that time, the pueblo straggled over the foothills at the mesa base. About a hundred yards west of this pueblo, over a sharp ridge, lay the old walled-in spring called Shungopa, the spring that gave the name to the pueblo, and which went dry in the 1870’s at the time of a landslide which caused a local earthquake.
About a hundred yards south of this spring stands a large boulder. On the top of this boulder can be observed three holes in a row, each hole being about a foot in diameter and between a foot and two feet deep. Hopi tradition associates these holes with a Hopi ceremony now extinct called the Ladder Dance.
Henry Polie “Butterfly Maiden”
Palhik Mana is a Butterfly Maiden, not a Katsina, but a woman dancer. She generally appears in August, as that is when the butterflies appear. The Butterfly Dance, a traditional social dance of the Hopi, is held in August after the gathering of the harvest and presentation of the Snake Dance. It is a thanksgiving dance for the harvest, chiefly for the corn crop and features dancing by young Hopi maidens. These sculptures are carved by Randolph in three sizes. They are beautiful tributes to the women in our lives.
“Black Ogre”
The Black Ogre Kachina, also known as the Nataska, is a Hopi doll that represents discipline and reinforces the Hopi way of life to children.
“Awatovi Soyok Wuhti” Female Ogre by Jack Nequatewa
“The Awatovi Ogre Woman is exactly like Soyok Wuhti except that she is believed to have come from the destroyed pueblo of Awatovi. Formerly she appeared more frequently on First Mesa. ”
“She behaves as Soyok Wuhti does when she stands by the side of the kachina who is speaking, scraping her saw on the building and reaching for unwary spectators or children. Usually this individual has a mat of wool for the hair on the mask, surmounted by a red feather.”
“Pachavuin Mana” by Glenn Fred
Hopi Pachavuin Mana is also known as the female Hemis Kachin Mana – whereas all other katsinam are portrayed by men, if masked, her figure is truly a woman. Hemis Kachin Mana appears on Second Mesa, they bring the beans sprouts, corn sprouts and grass to a village harvest. The crowd is usually lead by Chief Kachinas and Village Chiefs to perform certain rites and wait for the given signal to leave.
“Crow Mother”
Artist Unknown
Angwusnasomtaka, also known as Tümas, is a kachina (a spirit represented by a masked doll). She is a wuya, one of the chief kachinas and is considered the mother of all the hú and all the kachinas. During the Powamu celebration, she leads the initiation rites for the uninitiated children into the Powamu and Kachina societies. This includes the ritual of whipping them with yucca whips. This is a formal ritual and the whipping kachinas are careful in their actions during the ceremonial whipping.[1] In the ritual, each child takes four strokes from the yucca blade then when the initiatory whipping is over, she raises her skirts and receives the same treatment accorded the children. In English, she is known as Crow Mother.[2][3]
Her trusted helper is Eototo. Her sons are the black and blue Tüngwups, who lead the initiation rites. Angwusnasomtaka means Man With Crow Wings Tied On, while Tümas, her second name, means Crow Mother.
“Nataska Ogre” by A.L. Sahmie
One of the favored carvings of Hopi is that of Nataska, the feared Ogre. During the process of collecting food from Hopi homes for distribution to the Katsinas in the kivas, the Nataskas make horrible noises to scare the children. From the earliest ages, Hopi children have heard stories about how the Nataskas would abduct children and eat them, so it is no wonder that they are terrified of them. The parent or parents bargain with the Nataskas to leave the children alone and the Nataskas agree, thus the parent is the hero and the children are saved. The mother gives the Ogres food in exchange for leaving the children alone. The food is then taken to the kiva to feed the katsinas.
“Left Handed Hunter” by Lowell Talashoma Sr.
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.
“Kaisale” by A.L. Sahmie
The Kaisale, also known as the Winter Clown, is a Hopi Kachina that is associated with the moon and cold. The Kaisale is often depicted with a single horn on its head, which is sometimes called an ice mother, icicle, or ice. The Kaisale’s body is painted with horizontal stripes in colorful colors.
“Kaisale” by A.L. Sahmie
The Kaisale, also known as the Winter Clown, is a Hopi Kachina that is associated with the moon and cold. The Kaisale is often depicted with a single horn on its head, which is sometimes called an ice mother, icicle, or ice. The Kaisale’s body is painted with horizontal stripes in colorful colors.
“Kaisale” by Lowell Talashoma, Sr.
The Kaisale, also known as the Winter Clown, is a Hopi Kachina that is associated with the moon and cold. The Kaisale is often depicted with a single horn on its head, which is sometimes called an ice mother, icicle, or ice. The Kaisale’s body is painted with horizontal stripes in colorful colors.