Indian Village is a member of the Indian Arts and Crafts Association committed to preserving Native American art and culture and ensuring authenticity. Therefore, all items listed and displayed at the Indian Village site are handcrafted and most are one of a kind. For this reason, they suggest that you contact the store for availability before placing an order.
One piece of Native Americana that is fun to collect and that is sure to stimulate conversation is the kachina doll. Authentic kachinas, as with most other true Native American arts and crafts, are not inexpensive. For example, at Indian Village, the kachinas range in price from $360 to $2100.
History of the Kachina
Kachina is a Hopi word and has three meanings. It refers to a group of supernatural spirits who represent animate and inanimate nature, the masked dancers who impersonate these spirits, and the small painted dolls that represent the spirits. Although all Pueblo tribes make the dolls, the Hopi carvings are the most valued and lifelike.
Kachinas played a major role in the Hopi religion.The Hopi believed these guardian spirits lived high in the mountains to the west until the winter solstice--the shortest day of the year. On that day, they moved to the human world and inhabited people's bodies. Their purpose was to serve as messengers between the people and the gods, and in doing so, they could bring rain, fertile crops and animals, or punish transgressions, and cure disease.
The Hopi believed that when a man donned a Kachina mask, he became that spirit. The kachina dancers performed at many festivals, and Hopi fathers and grandfathers taught children the names of the different kachinas and what each stood for through the dolls they carved for them. However, rather than dolls, they were considered "god-figures" and were not to be played with, but to be treasured, studied, worshipped and then passed on to their own children.
Some kachinas were called "scare-kachinas." These had faces with long teeth and bulging eyes, and the Hopi men wore these masks to scare children who had been bad. The Hopi would cause fear in the children and then give much love and attention by the parents. In this way, the Hopi taught children the balance between nature and people, and Hopi children would then grow up to be friendly and giving. If a child or adult was deliberately cruel, he was shunned until he changed. At which time, the Hopi Way then taught forgiveness.
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