kachina

In Hopi religious practice, Kachina refers to three related things.

the spirits that live in the San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff, Arizona. There are about 300 of them, each representing something different.
the men of the tribe dressed and masked to represent the Kachinas in a traditional ceremony.Even though there are male and female Kachinas, only men can represent them.
a masked doll which represents a kachina spirit. They are presented to the women and children of the tribe.

The Kachina were recognized as intermediaries between humans and God, not as gods themselves. The identity of each individual being is depicted by the intricate use of color and elaborate ornamentation with feathers, leather, and fabric. The most important Kachinas are called wuya.

Kachina

Wuya

See also