There are hundreds of different Kachinas, many will never be viewed by anyone outside the Hopi culture. Kachinas may represent virtually anything from weather events such as rain and snow, to food, grain and livestock. There are kachinas for stars and planets and even other Indian tribes outside the Hopi nation.
Kachinas may also be the spirits of dead ancestors who visit the Hopi mesas to watch over their relatives and bring rain clouds.
Authentic Kachina dolls are carefully hand carved out of cottonwood root and painted or decorated with feathers, leather, and fabric in the manner which best represents a particular spirit of the Hopi religion. Traditionally it is up to the uncles in families to create kachina dolls for their nieces.
