The Kachina Spirits of the Pueblo
Across Pueblo cultures, the Kachinas (Katsinam) are supernatural beings who are the spirits of ancestors, natural forces, and all things in the universe — rocks, stars, animals, and plants. They reside in the San Francisco Peaks (north of Flagstaff, Arizona) and come to the pueblos for six months each year during the winter season. The Kachinas bring rain, fertility, and other blessings through ceremonial dances. Each Kachina has a specific identity, mask, songs, and role in the ceremonial calendar: Crow Mother brings rain, the warrior Kachinas police behavior, and the clown Kachinas expose hu