The Shalako ceremony at Zuni, New Mexico

The Zuni Shalako ceremony is a dramatic presentation by masked men who impersonate kachinas. Kachinas are mythical ancestors of humans; they visit the earth during the winter, but spend the rest of the year in the spirit world. The film begins with scenes showing the impersonators praying, ritually smoking cigarettes, and making prayer sticks (pahos). These activities are performed both individually and as a group. Ultimately they all kneel at a rock shrine in prayer after removing their headbands and shoes. Two societies of kachina impersonators, the Sayatasha and the Shulawitsi, are featured here. Their feathered prayer sticks are sprinkled with cornmeal in blessing, and then presented to the gods as messages. During the Shalako ceremony, which takes place at the end of the ritual year in late November or early December, the impersonators fast and pray for several days. On the last day of the ceremony, they cross the Zuni River to the ceremonial grounds (kisonvi), some of them in ten foot-high Shalako costumes. Each Shalako (usually six, but only five were filmed due to one refusing to be photographed) is accompanied by an alternate kachina impersonator when crossing the river. In this sequence they visit Hepatina, an important shrine. When all Shalakos have reach the ceremonial grounds, they face the other kachina impersonators and then run back and forth over a race course, planting prayer sticks in six excavations (for the six kivas) to ensure the well-being and fecundity of the villagers, their animals, and crops. In the closing sequence, a house is prepared to receive the impersonators. Either new houses are built, or existing ones are completely renovated for this ceremony. The Koyemshi, or clown kachinas, are seen at the end.