Old Style Hopi Carved Navajo Corn Dancer Traditional Plant Katsina Doll by Ryon Polequaptewa
Corn Katsinam (Qaokatsina) are the most common of the plant impersonators. This particular Corn Katsina is in honor of the Navajo and is a Tasap Qaokatsina and appears during winter kiva dances and springtime plaza dances. Several types of Corn Katsinam represent the different varieties of corn given as presents during performances. These Katsinam come in the four colors of corn (the four directional colors--red, yellow, blue and white). Sometimes they have ears of corn painted on their masks; other times they have spots painted on their bodies that represent kernels of corn. Click on numbered boxes below image for additional views.
