Native American Hopi Carved Eagle Great Spirit and Mudheads Katsina Doll by Milton Howard
Eagle (Kwahu) appears most often with the Mudheads in the Kiva or Repeat Dances of early March. The dance is a conscious effort to duplicate the actions and motions of eagles and is a prayer for an increase of eagles. Eagles occupy a rather unique position among the Hopi, for they are treated as honored guests and are given presents just as the Hopi children are. Eagle is the messenger between the people and their spirit guides.
The Mudhead (Koyemsi). Originally from Zuni Pueblo, the Koyemsi is another of the clown kachinas. He leads the racers into the village and challenges villagers in contests to prove their strength. During the pauses in a dance, Mudheads may engage in games with the boys and girls in the audience. At other times, only a single Mudhead may appear as a drummer for a group. Should a dancer not have the proper mask or be late in arriving, he can easily become a Mudhead by donning that mask. These Katsinam appear in almost every Hopi dance. It is said by some that Koyemsi was the first to emerge in the Hopi Fourth World and arrived covered in mud. Click on numbered boxes below image for additional views.
