Feather String Girl

Among six kachinas to emerge around 1915, when white cattle growers virtually wipped out the predator  population in the area.  In a effort to bring back the predators, who were important in their “curing rites”, the  Zuni called upon Kachinas who could attract the animals and bring them back to the land.  Half the ceremony is performed by female Kachinas and the last half by the male Kachinas.  Feather String Girl puts out the food to  attract the small animals (rodents) which are the natural prey of the predators. Feather String (La’Pilawe) comes from the trailing band of feathers that reach from the crown to the knees on the male Kachinas.  (Zuni)