Wakia was the first of her kind: a corn husk doll whose life was breathed by the Creator. She was beautiful and walked among the Haudenosaunee (the Iroquois people) with a singular purpose: to teach the children their ceremonies. Beauty is its own curse, as Wakia soon learned. Creator frowned upon vanity, and took Wakia’s face. With a blank face, Wakia learned to teach lessons of adaptation and healing to the Haudenosaunee, who were besieged by newcomers to their land. Passed on from one caretaker to another, Wakia was well-equipped to guide the children through change, as she has been with the people since before First Contact.
Written by proud Mohawk writer and teacher Cathy Smith, “Wakia-The No Face Cornhusk Doll: An Indigenous Short Story” is a delightful and inspiring read. Smith’s storytelling works well for a young audience, who will benefit from a history lesson about contact and colonization. Through Wakia’s point of view, we learn about how Haudenosaunee indigenous traditions and values persisted in Turtle Island. It truly is a gift to learn about indigenous stories and world views, as they reinforce our shared humanity, values and morality.
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