Katsina in Hopi Life 65 coveted seating within the plaza, or offering comfort from the sun and heat that bear down on the plaza in summer months. A few days before the Katsinam come to dance, women begin baking and cooking to prepare nökwivi, the traditional hominy and lamb stew, fresh yeast bread, and other sweets such as pies, doughnuts, and cinnamon rolls to add to the feast. The phrase “Uma aw nöswisni!” or “Come in and eat!” is commonly heard at a Katsina dance. Just as family members would go into the plaza following a good meal, visitors to the exhibition leave the home to experience the final Katsina dance of the season: the Niman ceremony, which occurs in July. The word Niman means “return home” and signifies the end of the Katsina season. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the Katsinam leave the village and ascend back to their spiritual home until the following year. Young maidens and new brides are presented to the community during this ceremony, and the Katsinam bring gifts of food—including fresh corn—and tithu for young girls before they depart. This section of the exhibition features an enlargement of a painting by artist Fred Kabotie, which serves as a backdrop for the plaza, as well as a video interview with his children, Michael and Hattie Kabotie, who discuss its significance. The Katsina season of the Hopi ceremonial calendar has ended for the current year, hopefully bringing a plentiful harvest for the people. With each season, values of humility and respect are re-instilled among the Hopi community. Despite the pressures of modern society, these traditions have persisted at Hopi and continue to be an integral part of cultural life. Katsina in Hopi Life not only teaches others about Hopi culture but also encourages self-reflection and good values by sharing these traditions with the world at large. Katsina in Hopi Life Through December 1, 2013 Autry National Center 4700 Western Heritage Way Los Angeles, CA www.theautry.org * In 2003, the Autry Museum merged with the Southwest Museum, the oldest museum in Los Angeles, to form the Autry National Center. Today the institution's holdings are designated as the Southwest Museum of the American Indian Collection. The second largest collection of Native American objects in the United States, it is widely regarded as one of the finest collections of its kind in the world.
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