HOPI KATCINAS
DRAWN BY NATIVE ARTISTS
By Jesse Walter Fewkes
INTRODUCTION
The Hopi Indians represent their gods in several ways, one of which is by personation—by wearing masks or garments bearing symbols that are regarded as characteristic of those beings. The symbols depicted on these masks and garments vary considerably, but are readily recognized and identified by the Indians.
At each festival in which these supernatural beings are personated the symbols are repainted, and continued practice has led to a high development of this kind of artistic work, many of the Indians having become expert in painting the symbols characteristic of the gods.
Believing that a series of pictures made by the cleverest artists among the Hopis would be a valuable means of studying the symbolism of the tribe, the author hired one of them to make him a series of drawings of all the personations of supernatural beings which appear in Hopi festivals. This method was suggested by an examination of Mexican codices, especially the celebrated manuscript of Padre Sahagun, now in Madrid, the illustrations in which are said to have been made by Indians, and Chavero's Lienzo de Tlascala, lately (1892) published by the Mexican government.
The author found several Hopi men competent to paint a collection of pictures of the kind desired, and finally chose for that work Kutcahonauû,[1] or White-bear, a man about 30 years old, who was believed to be the ablest of all who were considered. This Hopi had picked up a slight knowledge of English at the Keams Canyon school, and while his method of drawing may have been somewhat influenced by instruction there, this modifying influence is believed to be very slight, as the figures themselves show.
- ↑ For the pronunciation of proper names, see the alphabet at the end of this paper.
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