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Dictionary of kachina dolls meanings:
1st Mesa: Passage way to other mesas
Antelope: Dances to increase its numbers, brings
rain
Apache Dancer: “Mountain God”, protects
the Apache tribe in war time, also used in coming of age ceremonies
for young girls
Badger: Cures the sick, prayers for the growth
of healing herbs are given to him.
Bean: Dances for a plentiful crop of beans
Bear: Represents great power to cure the sick
Broadface: Carries Yucca whips to enforce community
cleaning
Buffalo: Most powerful among kachina dolls, can
kill evil thoughts, great spiritual protector
Buffalo Warrior: Assures there will be adequate
food for the winter
Butterfly: Represents the butterfly that lands
on flowers, then the medicine man uses these in his medications
Chasing Star: Symbolizes the plants and the stars.
Resurrects those that have fallen from the sky, lifting them back
up to the stars.
Chief: Ancient kachina, represents great power
of knowledge
Corn Maiden: Said to purify the women who grind
the corn for ceremonies and other use
Crow Mother: Watches over the children as they
play
Deer: Dances to increase his kind for plenty to
eat in the future
Eagle: Represents Strength and power, carries your
dreams to heaven
Hemis: A beautiful kachina, which represents happiness
of a successful harvest
Hoop Dancer: Amuses the audience of a major ceremony,
the rings represent the circle of life: Life, Death, and Reemergence
Hototo: Preparer of food, most respected of the
war kachina dollss
Hummingbird: Appears often as a runner, brilliant
impersonator
Kokopelli: Hunched back flute player, fertility
god, seducer of young girls, baby-maker. He carries a bag of presents
to distribute to the young girls.
Left-Hand: Reversed kachina, does everything in
the opposite
Lizard: Fighting kachina doll, brings Sweethearts
together
Medicine Man: Mixes herbs and roots to give advice,
prevents and cures the sick.
Morning Singer: Appears on roof tops and sings
songs to wake the village
Mouse: Skillful warrior who protects the village
Mudhead: Well known kachina dolls, acts as clown
Navajo kachina dolls: Represents the Navajo Tribe
as viewed by other tribes in the southwest
Ogre: White Ogre represents good; Black
Ogres threaten small children who are naughty
Old Man: Grandfather kachina, sings songs for a
successful growing season
Owl: Beneficial to agriculture because of his destruction
of rodents, symbolizes intelligence and wisdom
Paralyzed: Carried by a friend who was blind, together
they were able to hunt and travel
Rainbow: Represents peace and harmony amongst tribes
Ram: Much like all game animals, dances to increase
it’s kind for food and has power over the rain.
Red Tail Hawk: Rarely seen, serves many important
purposes
Road Runner: Assists in bring the rain, wards off
witchcraft to protect homes
Santo Domingo: Blesses the seeds for a good harvest
Shaiako: Most magnificent, towers seven or eight
feet, usually appears with it’s mate.
Snake Dancer: Sends message with the snake to ask
God to bring rain.
Snow: Brings snow and cold weather essential to
the growth of crops.
Spotted Corn: Aides in the polinization and production
of corn, a very important food.
Sunface: Represents warmth, shelter for the old,
bright future, and playfulness for the young.
Warrior: Serves as a policeman, important war kachina
doll
White Cloud: Represents the clouds in the sky,
brings moisture for the crops
Wolf: Hunter, uses his knowledge to find and capture
game animals
Wolf Warrior: Assures there will be adequate food
for the winter
Zuni Rain Priest: Accompanies the Shaiko to bring
rain
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