The Yei are the masked Holy People of Navajo ceremony, appearing in the great chantways to heal and restore — Talking God leads them, House God accompanies, and Tonenili, Hastsezini, and the Yeibichai dancers follow in the sacred processions.
Hastsezini appears among the masked dancers in the Yeibichai ceremony, his distinctive Pleiades-marked black mask identifying Black God among the Yei figures.
Hatałii who specialize in the Nightway perform the Yeibichai ceremony over nine nights, directing the complex sequence of songs, sand paintings, and masked dances.
The Yeibichai ceremony takes place in and around the Hogan, with sand paintings created on the sacred dwelling's floor and dances performed outside.
Talking God leads the Yeibichai as grandfather of the masked gods, his high-pitched call opening each night of the ceremony and his white-masked figure appearing first in the great procession of the Yéʼii.
Tonenili appears prominently in the Nightway (Yéʼii Bicheii) ceremony led by Yeibichai. As sacred clown, he provides comic relief and rain blessings during the intense nine-night healing ritual.
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