We recently posted on our Facebook page about dolls made by the native people and we wanted to bring up some examples of the dolls that you can find in our exhibits!
Almost all native tribes have dolls, but none are so common as the Corn Husk Doll. Like the one featured above, these dolls are made from the husks of corn. Historically they were made by many of the tribes that grew corn, and each one had a different story to their doll’s construction.
The Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) People’s legend of the corn husk doll tells a story about the first doll that was made by the Corn Spirit. It is said that the doll was once made with a beautiful face and played with the Iroquois children. When the doll saw its reflection, it became vain and treated the children badly. After many warnings, the Great Spirit took the beautiful features away from the doll as a lesson in humility. Since that time, the Haudenosaunee people do not put a face on their corn husk dolls. This is to remind people never to think that they are better than anyone else or a great punishment will fall upon them.
For the full story, you can follow the link below from the Oneida Nation
http://www.oneidaindiannation.com/the-legend-of-the-no-face-doll/
