[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

It should be noted that the French just blew off the request for the return of Hopi Indian sacred artifacts, that they instead allowed to be auctioned off.

The Hopi are a rather unusual tribe, whose reservation is entirely surrounded by Navajo (Diné) Indian reservation. They have an extraordinarily complex religion, especially known for Kachina dolls.

Because of this complexity, the Hopi create dolls that symbolize both their multitude of traditional gods (though most are Christian) and culture, that are so intertwined they cannot dispense with one without losing the other.

Until about the 1970s, stealing their cultural artifacts was done extensively, but was finally equated with stealing religious icons from churches.

[GladesGuru]

“Because of this complexity, the Hopi create dolls that symbolize both their multitude of traditional gods (though most are Christian)”

I did not know the Hopi made Christian Ikons, as did the Russian Orthodox. Indeed, I could not see any similarity between the two.

Might I therefore, ask for data supporting your hypothesis?

Thanks.

[Daffynition]

Very interesting. THX for the info.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

I read, years ago, that the Kachina dolls really have no religious significance as they make them to sell and are often pawned to tourists. It is the MASKS, which are never for sale or pawned, that have the religious power.

It may be like the sand paintings of the Navajo. They make them for sale to tourists, but put a small “error” in the design that makes them “non religious” items.