Native Americans have inhabited this country for many generations. We see so many things that are influenced by Native Americans and find ourselves in awe of the independence of these people and the culture they come from. When we look at art through Native American eyes we should see functional and usable art. The art was not for aesthetic reasons; it had a real purpose. The folk art that came from these cultures was for religious and moral reasons. Everything these people had had was needed in their group. The Kachina is one such necessity. The Kachina were and still are an important part of the religion of the Pueblo Indians, but I will focus on the Hopi Indians. The Kachinas were friendly spirits much like our Christian saints; however there were some evil Kachinas who punished those who disobeyed Hopi law. Kachinas play an important role in various religious ceremonies, many of which take the form of dances and songs. When a Hopi man dresses in the costume of a particular Kachina, he believes that that Kachina's spirit has replaced his personal identity. The ceremonies ask the Kachinas to bring abundant harvests, or to give the people of the village good health and luck. Hopi children believe in Kachinas just as American children believe in Santa Claus. In ceremonies, children should not recognize their fathers, uncles or friends who take on the role of Kachina. And while Santa Claus brings gifts to children, some Kachinas bring Kachina dolls, fruit, sweets and other surprises. Kachina dolls are given to children not as toys, but as something to cherish and study so that they can become familiar with the various spirits that are an important part of their religion. Kachina phenomena are relatively new. The Hopi religion has not always been in existence. As we know, religion is established to maintain order in a group or tribe. It sets the standard for how the group should live. To look more closely at the Kachina, we will look at the history of the Hopi Indians. In the book The Art of Hopi Carvers, we are told that the main ancestors of the Hopi were the Anasazi, a group of people who around the time of Christ came to depend on agriculture. They were at the center of the paper, many collectors of these objects. A Hopi Kachina doll can easily cost $1000 to start. The reason they are so prized is that the Hopi are believed to be the quintessential kachina craftsmen. They are considered the best in their craft. Due to waterfowl and predatory bird conservation efforts, kachinas are no longer what they once were. Also, if you are not a Hopi Indian with ties to the religion, you cannot get an authentic Kachina doll or mask. The colors are different. Each color is important to the Hopi and symbolizes something sacred, such as sky, water, etc. They don't use the same colors and symbols for their retail work. SOURCE Kiva Trading Company. Internet. 1997, Kiva Corporation, Cold Spring Harbor, New York. www.kivatradin.com/kachina.htmBritannica.com. Internet. 2000, Britannica.com, Inc.www.britannica.comThe Art of the Hopi Carvers. Internet. 1998, University of Arizona Press.www.uapress.arizona.edu/samples/sam471.htmKachina. Internet. 1998, [email protected]/aboutart/kachinas/kachcult.htmKatsina Bambole. Internet. www.nativeamericantraders.com/kachina.htm