Poupée "hahai-i wuti" - "Mère de kachinas", environ 1910

Description

wood (from the root of the cottonwood tree), coated with white clay (kaolin), remains of painting in red and black, carved with a cape, remains of cord, slightly dam., missing parts (both feet), strong abrasion of paint, base.
This grandmotherly “kachina” is one who talks constantly telling people how to behave and what they have done wrong. “Hahai-i” appears in many ceremonies accompanying other “chief kachinas”.
“Kachina” (“katsina”) are spiritual beings that have superhuman abilities. They assist in many different ways: they serve as messengers to the spirit world. They can control weather, bringing wind, sun and moisture in the form of rain or snow, they bless and offer seeds to the people, ensuring that germination will take place after planting, they also offer healing or medicine for physical ailments, and can alleviate stressful or anxiety-laden situations. The dolls are miniature versions of the “kachina”. Given to children, they constituted a pedagogical tool allowing them to familiarize themselves with the spiritual world and perpetuating knowledge of the founding myths on which their society was based.