On World Doll Day, Max traveled to New Mexico to visit her good friends, Squash Blossom, who is one of the Diné (also known as Navajo), and Elder Hitty, who is a member of Zuni Pueblo. The Zuni people call themselves the A:shiwi (the People).
Elder Hitty is carrying a leather pouch. What could be inside?
It’s a beautiful Zuni Fetish beaded necklace. A Fetish is a small carving of an animal used for ceremonial purposes. These guardian animals give the owner special powers.
Elder Hitty asks Max if she would like to have the necklace, and of course she says yes! Then Max asks Elder Hitty to tell her a story.
Elder Hitty obliges with a Zuni myth called:
Coyote Steals the Sun and Moon Long ago all the land was very dark. Eagle had no trouble hunting with his excellent eyesight, but Coyote couldn’t see as well. So Coyote persuaded Eagle to help him hunt. One day they came across a group of powerful spirit beings called Kachinas. The Kachinas had plenty of light, which came from inside a large box. Once the Kachinas were asleep, Coyote told Eagle that they should steal the box so that they could have light whenever they needed it. So Eagle grabbed the box and carried it in his claws as he flew away. Coyote ran along behind him on the ground. After a while, Coyote asked if he could carry the box for a while. Eagle agreed, because he was getting tired of flying with such a heavy box. Then Coyote started to lag behind. His curiosity got the better of him, and he opened the box. Immediately, the Sun and Moon, which were inside of the box, flew off into the sky. Coyote began to shiver, and all the plants started to die. Then the leaves turned brown and fell off the trees, and it started to snow. And that is why today we have winter instead of endless summer.
Elder Hitty explains that Kachinas (also known as Katsinas) are an essential part of the Zuni and Hopi religions. Katsina dancers perform in religious ceremonies which revolve around the winter and summer solstice and other important times of the year such as planting and harvesting crops. These ceremonies are great social occasions, and guests are always invited to the feasting that takes place. Elder Hitty tells Max that since she is a cha’k’okshi (well-behaved child), she will be invited to the next ceremony.
Then Squash Blossom recites a prayer called, “Walking in Beauty” from a Navajo Way Blessing Ceremony. You can read the original Walking in Beauty Prayer which is a very special prayer of healing and meditation.
After a fun morning, Max says goodbye to her friends and travels to Santa Fe. She visits the Allan Houser Sculpture Garden at Museum Hill. Allan Houser was a well-known Native sculptor. This bronze is “Homeward Bound,” which shows a Navajo woman crossing a bridge with her sheep and a dog. She has the traditional Navajo hairstyle.
This dramatic and large sculpture is “Apache Mountain Spirit Dancer” by Craig Dan Goseyun, who was a San Carlos Apache and an apprentice of Allan Houser.
Max loves the dynamic energy of the dancing “Lightning Boy” by Valentino Tzigiwhaeno Rivera.
But these statues are not the main attraction. The real reason Max is visiting Museum Hill is to see the Museum of International Folk Art. If you can’t visit in person, take a look at their online collection of objects from around the world. The bulk of the collection originally belonged to a famous designer of graphics and textiles named Alexander Girard. The museum has a large collection of dolls and figurines from all over the world.
Maxine wants to see some of the Native American dolls in the collection. They have authentic Hopi Katsina dolls and beautiful beaded dolls made by the Zuni.
Max had a great time celebrating World Doll Day with Elder Hitty and Squash Blossom. Thanks for hanging out with us!
ABOUT THE DOLLS
Elder Hitty is a doll that I carved from a very special wood called Bristlecone Pine, which grows in the Southwest and Mountain West. Some of these trees are over 2,000 years old! Squash Blossom was made by my mother, Karen Miller. She has a pipe cleaner body wrapped with yarn, and a wooden bead head. Maxine is a Flexible Kitty Friend made from felt with pipe cleaners inside. You can make her Native Pueblo Manta Dress for your own Hitty dolls.
