Native American Legends
How the Coyotes had a Katcina Dance
A Hopi Legend
At Squash Seed Point (Batángvoc Toika), lived the Hâ'ââ
Katcina. North of there lived the Hotóto Katcina. At Pûtátokaovi
lived the Söhö'ncomtaka Katcina, north of the village
lived the Red Eagle (Palákway) Katcina, and at Katcínvala
lived many Katcinas. At Íshmovala lived the Coyote and his
wife. The Coyote used to see the Katcinas come and have their dances
and processions, and one time said to his wife: "We are going
to do that, too. People like to see this."
In the morning the Coyote went out, and standing on the roof of
his kiva he called out to his friends, the Coyotes, that they should
assemble in his kiva. Soon they came from come from all sides, many
of them. When they had all assembled he said to them: "I want
to 'overtake' something, too, like these Katcinas do. Tomorrow we
shall have a Katcina dance. so you go to the village, and if you
find something in the rear of the village such as feathers, pieces
of skin, etc., bring it here." They all declared themselves
willing. The Coyotes thus went out and went around the village hunting
for pieces of skin, feathers, pieces of gourds, especially the necks
of long necked gourds, and brought all these things to the Coyote's
kiva. Here they sewed up kilts, made bunches of feathers for head-dresses,
etc., thus working all day. Each one prepared a costume of a Katcina
that he had seen. During the night they slept there.
In the morning one of the Coyotes went to the place where the Hâ'ââ
Katcina always dresses up; two others to the place where the Hotóto
dresses up: one to the place of the Söhö'ncomtaka; one
dressed up like the Palákwayo at the place where that Katcina
lives; and a number of others went to Katcínvala. When all
were ready the Hâ'ââ shouted four times and then
went northward where he was joined by the two Hotótos, then
by the next ones, and these by the Palákway, and finally
by the Katcinas at Katcínvala. They all then went to the
Coyote's house at Íshmovala. The Coyote and his wife, who
lived here had not gone along but had remained with their children.
Here the Katcinas now had a dance.
The Oraíbi happened to have a Coyote hunt on this day. Some
of them went southward, others northward, from the village, forming
a large circle, and then proceeding towards the village. But they
found no Coyotes because the latter were all assembled at Íshmovala.
While they were still dancing, the Oraíbi came upon them
and at once closed in upon them. When the Coyotes saw that they
were surrounded they began to run, trying to escape, but as they
had masks on they could not see so well, and many of them were killed
at once; others threw down their masks, but as they had their Costumes
on they could not run fast and so were also killed. Only the family
that lived at Íshmovala, and who had not put on costumes
or masks, escaped. When the Hopi had killed all the Coyotes they
laughed at them and went to the village, being happy over their
successful hunt.
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