Description
This Hemis Kachina is adorn with two Longhair Kachinas and a Kachina Mother also. This is the most common female impersonation. In her appearance the Hemis Kachina or Kachina Maiden plays the rasp during one portion of the performance. This particular instrument is a gourd shell with a padded rim that is turned down to rest on the ground. A notched stick is placed on the gourd and held with the left hand. The right hand holds a sheep scapula so that the central ridge engages the notched stick and then scrapes it up and down. The resulting sound is a coarse grunting tone. She is 11 1/2″ tall.
Longhair Kachina or Angaktsina is a rain deity. Long hair represents the flow of rain, the colors of his beard represent clouds, and the feathers represent cloud bursts / rain.
Kachina Mother or Hahay’i embodies the Hopi ideal of a mother.
