Kachina Dolls ***

Making Kachina Dolls
Making Kachinas requires good carving skills and involves both tradition and artistry. The dolls are traditionally carved from the roots of cottonwood trees, although tupelo and swamp wood is also used. The tools used to carve the dolls include a variety of knives in various sizes, chisels, mallets, hatchets, hammers, hand saws and rasps. Traditionally Kachina dolls were made from just one piece of wood but today headdresses, arms, legs and accessories are made separately. The process of making Kachina Dolls is as follows:

An appropriate piece of wood is sourced
Bark is removed
The wood is smoothed
The wood is carved and all sections of the doll are assembled
The face of the doll is usually carved as a mask
A coating of clay or whitewash is applied
The doll is then carefully painted
The colors used have significant directional meanings
- Yellow symbolizes north
- Blue-green symbolizes west
- Red symbolizes south
- White symbolizes east
- Black symbolizes the underworld
Accessories held by the dolls are then added such as rattles, sticks and whips
Additional decorative items might be added to a doll including feathers, animal horns, horsehair and semi-precious stones

Kachina Dolls - Facts about Kachinas
Kachinas are powerful spirits of deities, natural elements or animals who can use their magical powers for the good and well-being of the people, bringing rainfall, healing, fertility, or protection. Each of the Kachinas hold different powers. Kokopelli is the most famous of all the Kachina spirits. Kachinas are believed to have the same type of relationships as humans and may marry and have children. Kachinas can therefore have brothers, uncles, sisters, aunts and grandmothers. There are more than 400 different types of Kachinas in the Southwest Indian culture and many of these are depicted as Kachina Dolls.

Giving Kachina Dolls
The men traditionally make Kachina Dolls and their work is usually conducted in a special sacred building called a Kiva. Kachina Dolls are traditionally given during a ceremony such as the Soyal and the Niman. The Kachina dolls are then displayed on the walls of the pueblo where they can remind children of the costume and characteristics of the Kachina spirit.

Types of Kachina Dolls
Kachina dolls are made to suit the ages of the children. The materials and construction of a doll will be suited to babies, toddlers and the older children. The following pictures depict drawings of some of the oldest forms of Kachina Dancers drawn by Hopi Indians. For full description refer to Hopi Kachina Meanings.


Turkey	Buffalo	Mocking Bird	*Bird*	*Wasp*

*Owl*	*Humming Bird*	*Hawk*	Bee	*Snipe*

Kachina Dolls

How to make Kachina Dolls
Types of Kachina Dolls
Pictures of Kachina Dolls
Facts about Kachina Dolls

Pictures and Videos of Native Americans
Discover the vast selection of pictures which relate to the History of Native Americans and illustrate many decorations and tattoos used by American Indians. The pictures show the clothing, tattoos, war paint, weapons and decorations of various Native Indian tribes that can be used as a really useful educational history resource for kids and children of all ages and a means to study their interpretation. We have included pictures to accompany the main topic of this section - Native American Art. The videos enable fast access to the images, paintings and pictures together with information and many historical facts. All of the articles can be accessed via the Native Indian Tribes Index.

Kachina Dolls. Discover facts and information about the artwork of Native American Indians and their use of the Kachina Dolls to convey stories and meanings

Kachina Dolls
Definition of Kachina Dolls
Facts about Kachina Dolls
Photographs and images of Kachina Dolls
Interesting facts and information about Kachina Dolls