Vern Mahkee
Warrior Mouse
13" H
total height
This particular figure represents
the fabled "Warrior Mouse." While not actually a kachina,
he has earned himself a respectable place in the hearts of young
and old alike.
As the story goes, the village
was being threatened by a nasty old hawk - he was eating all
the village chickens.
The old men knew he must be
killed, the boys knew he must be killed, and all the women and
children knew he must be killed - but no one knew how, and all
their plans had failed.
The Village Chief and Town
Crier were very worried and had met in private to smoke and ponder
upon the subject. Even they did not know how to rid themselves
of the marauding hawk.
Then late one night, a little
mouse sat smoking in his little kiva - and he felt bad for the
people and decided that he would kill the hawk. So that night
he went to the home of the Village Chief.
Upon being invited in, he
ate and smoked, and the chief smoked, and the mouse told him
why he had come. He was going to kill the hawk. At first the
chief was amused, and then he was concerned, but he accepted
the offer anyway.
When the Town Crier and the
rest of the village heard about the plans of the mouse, they
shook their head and questioned the village leader. But some
thought maybe the mouse had special power. So they prepared anyway.
A date was set, and preparations
took place. People came from all the other villages to see their
friends and relatives, to talk and joke, and of course to eat.
They came to see the mouse who was to kill the hawk.
The mouse had also prepared.
He had sharpened the end of a greasewood stick and dug a long
tunnel from his kiva into the plaza. There he dug another hole
reaching to the surface. He smoked all night before the day of
the warrior's dance. He dressed himself in warpaint and feathers
and took his club and bow.
He set the warriors standard
on the ladder of his kiva, and when it was time he emerged dancing
and singing his little warrior song - The hawk kills chickens,
and the hawk kills rabbits, but the hawk will not kill the warrior
mouse!
The people all watched in
amazement - some in doubt, as the hawk sat watching from far
away. He was angry with this mouse and flew off to destroy him
- but the mouse danced close to the opening of his kiva and ducked
inside each time the hawk came close.
Then finally he went into
the tunnel he had dug and drove the sharp spear up through the
ground next to the opening in the earth, and he went back out
singing and dancing. Only this time he went far away from his
kiva, and all the people thought the hawk would get him for sure.
It was just then that the hawk swooped down low to snatch up
the pesky mouse, but the mouse dropped down into the hole he
had dug, and the hawk, who did not see the spear in the ground,
impaled himself, slicing his throught, and rolled over dead.
The villagers were amazed,
and the little mouse was honored as a hero - and they celebrated.
And that is how the mouse defeated the hawk.
Vern Mahkee was born November
13, 1963 and resides in Oraibi, at Third Mesa. He is a member
of the Corn Clan.
Vern is a self-taught artist.
He learned the art of carving by watching his numerous artistic
relatives, like his uncle, the famed Kachina carver Alvin James
Makya, and taught himself their methods as well as developing
his own.
Vern Mahkee first carved Kachinas
as a means of carrying on a religious rite. He began carving
the dolls for sale and entering shows in 1979. Since that time
he has developed a reputation for ultra-fine detail, as well
as beautiful balance in his Kachinas.
He has won awards in such
prestigious shows as the Santa Fe Indian Market. Vern¹s
Hopi name is Kuwanwisiwima.
