Kachina Dolls

Kachina dolls are an important part of the Zuni and Hopi life. Kachinas (also called Katsina or Katchina) are supernatural and are called on for various reasons, such as good crops, rainfall, fertility, protection and so on.  There are over 400 different Kachinas. Kachina dolls are carved of cottonwood root and given to women and young girls as gifts. Kachina dolls are painted and adorned with leather, fur, turquoise, beads and more. The Kachina dolls we created were drawn out on craft paper and traced with sharpie.  Then, we colored with art sticks and colored pencils.  The next step was to back the image with construction paper, only gluing the edge.  Once the glue was dry we stuffed them with tissue paper so that they would stand.  I do this with my 3rd graders and it usually takes 3, 50 minute sessions to complete.