Why The Corn Husk Doll Has No Face
Why The Corn Husk Doll Has No FaceAn Oneida Nation Creation
StoryPrepared by Romy BlystoneNarrated by Loretta Metoxen
The Oneida Nation of WisconsinMost of the Oneida Nation of
Wisconsins income is generated from two large casinos and five
satellite casinos; 5 convenience stores that sell gas, food, etc.;
two major hotels (i.e. The Radisson Hotel & Conference Center
and the Wingate by Wyndham both in Green Bay, WI); a 10,000 acre
farm that produces 500 head of beef and also grows organic foods;
and a farm that raises 250 head of buffalo.The Oneida Nation of
Wisconsin live in the modern world of today and are integrated into
their surrounding community, even sponsoring an entrance gate to
Lambeau Field, home of the Green Bay Packers. Yet, they still hold
tightly to many of their traditional foods, like venison, turkey,
and corn.The future of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin is about
making choices. If we take the path of finding a balance between
holding onto our traditions as well as integrating into society,
our future looks bright. Loretta Metoxen | Historian at the Oneida
Cultural Heritage Department
The Oneida Nation of Wisconsin is a federally recognized tribe
of Oneida people. Their reservation is 8.5 miles by 12 miles long
(65,430 acres) and is located on the west side of the Green Bay
(WI) metropolitan area. Roughly 4,000 Oneida people live on the
reservation while another 20,000+ other persons also live in the
area. Overall, there are an estimated 18,000 total tribal members
that live on and/or around the reservation as well as throughout
the world.
Why The Corn Husk Doll Has No Face Orated by Loretta Metoxen
At one time the corn husk people had a very beautiful faces. It
was said that in the old days, the Creator placed the corn husk
people here on earth to be a companion to the children. Their task
was to entertain the children and keep them out of mischief.
One day, one doll was made that was very beautiful. One day
while playing in the woods, this very beautiful corn husk doll saw
her reflection in a pool of water. She became obsessed with her
beauty. She became very proud and haughty. She was so proud of
herself, in fact, that she forgot her appointed task -- the
children. She neglected them and wouldnt let any of them play with
her. She spent all of her time admiring her reflection in the calm
pools of water.
The children began misbehaving and getting into trouble. When
the Creator asked them why, the children complained that the corn
husk doll was too busy admiring herself and didnt have time to play
with them any more. When the Creator heard this he was not pleased.
He became so disturbed by her vanity that he took away her face and
her spirit to teach her a lesson in humility.
When she realized what had happened to her, she started
wandering the earth. Every creature that she came upon she would
ask if they knew how she could get her face and her spirit back.
All the forest creatures had their own problems to worry about so
they could give her no advice. Finally, exhausted, she came across
an owl. Asking him for his advice, he replied, You must forget
yourself and your own concerns and start helping others.
Roaming the earth, she helped others and did nice things, but
always in the back of her mind she thought of getting her beautiful
face back. One day, she came across a cornfield that was dying.
When she asked the corn why it was dying, it replied, The
butterflies usually brought us water from the pond on their wings,
but they have not come this year. The corn would die without water,
and the doll was so saddened by this story that she took it upon
herself to bring the water to the cornfield. In all of her trips
from the pond to the field, not once did she think of herself or of
what she had lost.
The Creator was very pleased when he saw her unselfishness, so
he returned her face and spirit. By this time she had truly become
beautiful in both face and spirit through her regard for someone
other than herself. From that day forward, she never ran away from
the children again.
NOTE: This is one version of the varying stories of why these
beautiful dolls are made faceless. Whatever the story, each
contains an underlying theme that teaches a lesson to the young
people. One lesson teaches that the Creator and the child together
should determine the personality of the doll. Another lesson is
that if a face is painted on the doll, the child will begin to
identify too closely with the dolls personality and a pretty face
may cause conceit or self-pride. Yet another is that by making a
doll and giving it a face, you are giving it a spirit or soul and
by selling it, it would be like selling your own child.
Thank You For ViewingFor more information on the Oneida Nation
of Wisconsin please visit:https://oneida-nsn.gov/
Sources:Loretta Metoxen | Historian at the Oneida Cultural
Heritage MuseumEdmund Blackthunder | Oneida Nation MuseumOneida
Nation of Wisconsin website
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