Native American Hopi Carved Red Tail Hawk Guard Katsina Doll by Milton Howard
As a general rule the Red Tail Hawk (Palakwayo) can appear individually, when it functions more as sergeant-at-arms or policeman. In this role they either enforce an action, such as community cleaning, or as guards to prevent the approach of anyone or anything to the proximity of a location or ceremony. When the Red Tail Hawk appears with other Guard or Warrior Katsinam in a group they are functioning as warriors. They surround the more sacred Katsinam as a small but ferocious army of fearsome creatures. Click on numbered boxes below image for additional views.
