Wakia-The No Face Cornhusk Doll: An Indigenous Short Story

By Cathy Smith

The Greeks have Narcissus and the Haudenosaunee have the Cornhusk Doll. They both stared into pools to admire themselves and got punished. Narcissus fell in love with himself. The Cornhusk Doll had her face taken away by her Creator, so she was no longer distracted from her duties. Both stories are parables against vanity in their respective cultures.

Wakia, the No Face Cornhusk Doll has learned humility over the centuries of her existence in this short story. However, she wants her face back. The Haudenosaunee children have lost interest in her. They all want to play with the Settlers' dolls. Will the Creator grant Wakia's request? Will the Rez kids play with her again?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cathy Smith
• Release date: May 10, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201649395

Cathy Smith

Cathy Smith is a Mohawk writer who lives on a Status Reservation on the Canadian Side of the Border on Turtle Island (North America). She is proud of her people’s heritage and also has an interest in the myths and legends of other peoples and cultures, and modern fantasy and science fiction, which is often derived from past myths and often acts as myths for modern times.

Book preview

Wakia-The No Face Cornhusk Doll: An Indigenous Short Story

Cathy Smith

Published by Cathy Smith, 2021.

This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

WAKIA-THE NO FACE CORNHUSK DOLL: AN INDIGENOUS SHORT STORY

First edition. May 10, 2021.

Copyright © 2021 Cathy Smith.

ISBN: 979-8201649395

Written by Cathy Smith.

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright Page

Wakia, The No-Face Corn Husk Doll

Please post a review if you liked this short story.

Sign up for Cathy Smith's Mailing List

Further Reading: Kateri's Tales:Based on Haudenosaunee Folktales

Also By Cathy Smith

About the Author

Wakia, The No-Face Corn Husk Doll

I AM WAKIA. THE NO-Face Corn Husk Doll. My first memory is of a cornfield. The Creator wove my body, limbs, and head from fresh corn husks. He gave me to the Haudenosaunee during their first corn harvest. He left me in the field to greet them as they gathered their corn.

They gathered around me in wonder. Is it a new cornstalk? Where’s the ears of corn? There’s the corn silk on the top? There are husks gathered into the shape of arms and legs.

I am Wakia >tahskats.

This caused all the children to laugh at me. Wakia >tahskats. They kept repeating.

A little girl came up to me, "Well she is pretty." I entertained the children while their mothers worked in the field.

I knew my home as Turtle Island. Later on it the Settlers called it the Finger Lakes Regions. Now, I live on an Indian reservation, the Rez,