Katchina Dancers.

These dolls are part of a collection, hand carved and painted by my son-in-law's grandfather, Joe Ellerd, who lived in Texas U.S.A. A katchina can represent anything in the natural world or cosmos. There are more than 400 different Katchinas in Hopi and Pueblo culture. They are understood to have relationships and may marry and have children. They are viewed as powerful, bringing rainfall, giving healing, protection. and fertility. The Katchina dancers are masked members of the tribe who dress up for religious ceremonies and the dolls are given to children as gifts. Katchina was the most widespread religion practiced by the Pueblo, over 200 years before the Spaniards arrived in the West