Old Style Hopi Carved Hillili Traditional Guard Kachina Doll (Katsina Doll)

Description

Old Style Hopi Carved Hemis Hillili Traditional Guard Katsina Doll by Leonard Honahnie

The Hillili Katsina is believed to have made its way from Acoma or Laguna Pueblo. By the time he reached the Hopi on First Mesa prior to the turn of the century, his name had changed from Heleleka to Hillili. His name is attributed to the shrill call that he makes. He functions as a guard or Whipper Katsina and is greatly admired for his rapid dance movements. This particular Hillili appears at Niman The Home-Going Dance, when all the Katsinam appear for the final time of the season and then leave for the San Francisco Peaks where they live.