Butterfly

by Gerald Musinsky

A universal Native America symbol. In the Apache Bear Dance they entice girls from the underworld. It figures prominently in the Hopi migration myth, Honannyamu, where the Butterfly clan is linked with the Badger Clan.

Butterflies are created by the Zuni kachina Paiyatemu playing a flute. Ajille (Navajo) disguises himself as one, and serves as hero and origin tales. Butterflies are also linked (minor motifs) to certain Thunder Bird narratives.

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