Fox Kachina
By Darance Chimerica

During certain times of the year before the spring season, kachinas arrive to test boys and young men in the village into becoming good runners. They arrive in the middle of the village where they have races. The kachinas such as the Yellow fox kachina arrives to race against the young men. If the men win, they receive strings of fruit and corn, if they lose they might get whippings from the kachinas. This is a teaching to the Hopi young men to be strong, not to become lazy and to stay fit.

Measures: 5 1/2" (head) x 3" (body) x 11 1/2"

'The traditional style Hopi Kachina doll carvings use homemade plant and mineral pigments, as well as a variety of feathers such as the pheasent, parrot, duck, and others. All dolls are carved from cottonwood tree root which I gather and collect. Every doll is unique and tells a story.'

Darance Chimerica has been carving for 13 years and resides in the village of Moenkopi Arizona member of the Hopi Tribe and of the Fire clan.