Orlan Honyumptewa
Left-handed
Hunter
9 1/2"
total height
"The Left Handed Kachina
is said by some to be derived from the Hualapai Nation, but other
Hopi attribute them to the Chemehuevi. He is called left handed
because his gear is reversed.
To draw an arrow from the
quiver he must use his right hand rather than his left as is
normal. The Kachina moves with strange bobbing and little choppy
steps. Despite his odd behavior, he is an excellent hunter.
"He is a favorite subject
for the carving of kachina dolls or the paiting of pictures,"
records Barton Wright. Incidentally, Lowell happens to be left-handed
and has adopted the Left-handed kachina as his mascot.
The Left-handed kachina, Suy-ang-e-vif,
may act as a prompter in a dance or be found making odd little
bows and taking small mincing steps at the edge of a procession.
A great deal of the time he
has trouble with the Ho'-e when they appear in the same dance.
[When together], one of the usual pair keeps up a steady step
while the other points to evidence of [game] they are obviously
hunting."
- Barton Wright, Kachinas: a Hopi
Artist's Documentary (32)
Orlan Honyumptewa, from Moenkopi,
Third Mesa, wasa born in 1975 and has been carving for 10 years.
Orlan carves in the old style because he likes working with the
natural colors of paint. He has two children, Trevor (8) and
Alisa (7). His wife, Rechelle, is from Second Mesa.
