The MFAH has over 100 Native American Kachina, or Katsina, figures in its collection, all donated by the visionary collector Ima Hogg. Katsina figures represent benevolent spirit beings, and embody the essence of animals, natural elements, ancestors, and celestial forces. This incredible buffalo figure alludes to the central role the great bison herds played in the lives of tribes, in this case the A:shiwi (formerly Zuni). A powerful spirit, he wears a buffalo mask and carries a rattle and the lightning stick, as a dancer would, to eliminate evil thoughts, act as spiritual protector, and to pray for the herd.

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