Page 21 - September 2019

reflective of the Hopi Mesas he had left
behind. Rarely did anyone come into
this room as to many these were wooden
“idols”. They weren’t the pretty German

and French fashion dolls being proudly
displayed and talked about with the
doll club exhibit, but here was I, sitting,

quietly watching “dolls” being made by
hand. Real “American” dolls. I was also
being taught a very valuable lesson-that
I didn’t have to be busy, running about,
talking, asking questions and just plan

noisy. I was with a master, a mentor,
being shown what respecting an elder
meant, and only speaking when being

spoken to which later that afternoon
came about. I was asked why I was there,
and did I know what these objects he was
carving were? Being shy and tongue-tied,
I allowed him to tell me the spiritual and

cultural significance. The earth paint
colors he used had meaning. Each mask

VOICES! | SEPTEMBER 2019 21