Presentation Topic: First Nations (USA) perspectives: by and about

ABSTRACT:

The purpose of this paper is to examine the socio-economic, religious and political role of traditional Hopi Kachinas and their makers in light of the recent and very popular development of Navajo Folk Art. Within this context we shall try and determine if the artistic creation of Kachina dolls continues to be, what I would argue, a "latent function," as part of the active tribal belief system. In other words, that in the doll making process, the very formulating act of carving a Kachina not only is an act of faith by the artisan, also an active perpetuation of the Hopi cosmic world. I would also argue that the "manifest function", of making Hopi Kachinas is not only a teaching tool for Hopi children, especially girls, to learn the symbolic meaning of these sacred like icons in their belief system, but also serving the purpose of enhancing the socio-economic status of the artisan in Hopi society. Furthermore, we shall try and determine if Navajo Folk Art, which entails the making of Kachina like dolls, has had and continues to have an impact on the socio-economic value system of the traditional Hopi Kachina makers. And consequently, because of the competitive nature of Navajo Folk doll making leads to the disfunctional act of creating tense tribal animosity between the Hopi and the Navajo.

BIONOTE:

Silvester J. Brito is an Associate Professor of English and Adjunct Professor of American Indian Studies at the University of Wyoming. He has a PhD. in Folklore from the University of Indiana. Brito has published several books, one an ethnography: The Way of A Peyote Roadman, and several papers on American Indian life and culture. His other books are of his own poetry, with a few publications in the area of American Indian Short stories.