Chester Poleyestewa is a Hopi Katsina (Kachina) Carver. He is one of the last of the traditional carvers working today. What is the difference between a traditional carver and a modern one?

In 1973, a group of Hopi artists who were part of the Hopi Arts and Crafts Cooperative Guild, formed a separate group called Artist Hopid.

If you are from the Denver area, and old enough, you might remember a time when the gift shop at the Denver Museum of Natural History had one of the finest selections of Native American Indian arts and crafts in the country. It’s now known as the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.

The Kachina are considered to be spiritual beings. The members of the Kachina Societies dress themselves to resemble these beings. The clothing and mask designs have been handed down for centuries.

The Shalako Festival at Zuni Pueblo is held at this time of year. It was originally held on the 49th day after the tenth full moon. It has been changed to coincide with a weekend near that time to allow people to return to Zuni to take part.

Hopi Katsinas are physical representatives of Hopi spirits. There are hundreds of these spirits. The Hopi believe they visit the Mesas between January and July to bless the people with good crops, rain, knowledge, health, and more.

Yes, there is a day to recognize and celebrate Native American Heritage. It is the day after Thanksgiving. The month of November is Native American Heritage Month.

On Friday, April 21, Mom was the first one at the Gallery. She usually has been for the past 40 years. She would unlock the building, get the lights on, fire up the computer, and get the Gallery ready for business.

The Katsina Dances on the Hopi Mesas start in winter and continue into July when the Kachina spirits (Katsinam) go to their home until the following year. At Third Mesa, where Chester Poleyestewa is from, the dances begin when the Katsinam arrive on the Mesa in December. At First and Second Mesas, they arrive in February.