Native American FETISHES

Native American FETISHES

Native American Fetishes are carvings, typically from wood, stone,
shell or antler, that represent certain animals, birds or figures.
Once a fetish is created, a person will carry that fetish with him or
her with the desire of obtaining the spirit and dominant strength or
characteristic of that animal.
The Zuni are perhaps the most recognized for their fetish carving
skills although many tribes practiced this ritual. The Zuni first
carved fetishes to take on hunting expeditions to ensure a good hunt.
For the Sioux, two fetishes were given to children at birth. One fetish
was kept in plain sight; the other was hidden away with the stump of
the child’s umbilical cord after it had fallen off.
This was done to keep bad spirits from the child. When the child
reached the age of five, the fetish was returned to the child, as they
were believed to be old enough to keep and treat it responsibly as part
of their personal medicine.
The following fetishes were believed to empower one with the described traits:

Armadillo – slow and steady animal, methodical and accurate
Badger – able to reach set goals
Bear – provides strength
Beaver – promote family unity, progressive builder
Buffalo – endurance
Coyote – humor
Eagle – connection to divine upward spirits
Fox – protection, stealth
Frog – used to call upon the spirits to bring rain
Horned Toad – self reliance
Horse – contains healing powers
Mole - connection to divine earthly spirits
Mountain Lion – leadership
Owl – wisdom, patience
Ram – keeper of the herds
Raven – believed to contain healing powers, the beak of this fetish is scratched across the skull of a sick person.
Snake – symbolizes life, death and rebirth
Turtle – long life
Wolf – teacher, guide for a journey





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Being Indian its not,
Just the "Blood"....Its "Living the way"......
{Karenshadowdancer}