The Hopi Reservation is located in the arid high desert of northeastern Arizona. The Hopi live atop three ancestral mesas and continue the tradition of dry farming the surrounding land. They grow corn, beans, squash and melon without irrigation and less than 12 inches of moisture a year. To survive, a complex religious system has evolved to aid in bringing water to this dry land. One aspect of this religion is the Hopi Kachina society. Kachinas are benevolent spiritual beings, representing everything from ancestors to animals, and function as intermediaries between the Hopi and beings who control the weather, insuring a successful harvest.      When Kachinas dance at Hopi they often bring gifts for children. The Hopi girls' favorite gift is a Kachina doll. These dolls are a valuable teaching tool and a spiritual link between the child and the Kachinas. The dolls featured on this site are more indicative of the dolls used in ceremony than the more contemporary action style dolls made primarily for the art market.      For more information on Traditional Style kachinas and Hopi culture check out my book Traditional Hopi Kachinas: A New Generation of Carvers, published by Northland Publishing.