in the time before time, the birds of prey carried the ancestors of the hopi out from the underworld and taught them the mysteries of life. during the night ceremonies of early march, the eagle kachinas dance, beautifully evoking the soaring and swooping motions of eagles' flight. through these dances the hopi express their hope that many eagles will be hatched that season, so that there will be many eagles to carry their words upwards to the gods. created with colored ink on paper.