Transcript Why The Corn Husk Doll Has No Face

Why The Corn Husk
Doll Has No Face
An Oneida Nation Creation Story
Prepared by Romy Blystone
Narrated by Loretta Metoxen
The Oneida Nation of Wisconsin
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.
Most of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin’s 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
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 wouldn’t 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 didn’t
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 doll’s 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 Viewing
For more information on the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin please visit:
https://oneida-nsn.gov/
Sources:
• Loretta Metoxen | Historian at the Oneida Cultural Heritage Museum
• Edmund Blackthunder | Oneida Nation Museum
• Oneida Nation of Wisconsin website (https://oneida-nsn.gov/)