Beads and Fetishes in Pueblo Witchcraft, Part II

                                                    Approaching the Pueblo of Zuni


                  The Zuni Indians carved animal fetishes for eons before the advent of Europeans in the Southwest.  In native culture people have an animal that they relate to as their personal totem.  Indians would come from far and near to trade at Zuni for a fetish to use in their private medicine.  Later these fetishes became popular with collectors of Native American art and there evolved a traditional of ‘table fetishes,’ more akin to sculpture than medicine.  The Zunis also began to make fetish necklaces in which small animal fetishes were drilled and strung with heishi beads from Pueblo Santo Domingo.  Certain Zuni carvers emerged as artists and families such as the Quandalacys became internationally famous for the beauty of their carving.

                                                    Horse Fetishes by Andres Quandalacy

It is important to note here that the primary purpose of the Zuni fetish has always been for protection, medicine and magic.  Hunters used them to help catch game or to make game more plentiful.  Fetishes may protect not only an individual, but whole tribal communities.  Rain, abundance, fertility, bountiful crops and love are also blessings a fetish may provide. 

The following is a basic listing of traditional fetish animals and the qualities associated with them:

1.  Eagle: Spirit, connection to the divine. Pueblo Indians made an agreement with eagle to carry their prayers to God.
2.  Deer: Gentleness, power of gentleness
3.  Bear: Strength, introspection, power of  the soul.  Bear Clan people are the preeminent spiritual leaders at Hopi. They act as the mothers and fathers of the whole community.

  Turquoise bear fetish by Emory Eriacho with medicine bundle

                                    of arrow and beads of shell, turquoise, and coral
                                    Jet bear fetish by Emory Boone inlaid with turquoise, shell, coral

4.      Snake: Transmutation, life, death, rebirth.

5.      Turtle: Longevity, symbol of Mother Earth

                                            Jet turtle fetish inlaid with turquoise by Emory Boone 

                            Pipestone turtle fetish, carved w. turquoise by Daphne Neha

6.  Coyote: Trickster, laughter, hunter
7.  Wolf: Teacher, pathfinder on the journey of survival
8.  Buffalo: Endurance to overcome one's weakness
9.  Mountain Lion: Leadership, resourcefulness
10.  Beaver: Builder, strong sense of family and home
11.  Horse: Possession of healing powers
12.  Frog: Invokes the spirits to bring rain
13.  Ram: Used to secure an increase of flocks, a  favorite of Navajo sheepherders.

             Frog fetishes of rainbow calsilica, turquoise, and coral by Georgette Quan

          
      Animals are also associated with the six great directions and have their colors in Zuni cosmology: Eagle is multi-colored and associated with the sky.  The north is associated with the color yellow and the mountain lion.  East is white and belongs to the wolf.  West is blue and the province of the bear.  The south is red, home of the badger and the mole is the ruler of the underground and associated with the color black.

While these are the principle animal fetishes, contemporary Zuni carvers make a variety of animal fetishes for medicine purposes and also for sale in Native American art galleries.  Bat, moose and ladybug fetishes, along with a variety of animals, have been created in recent years.  Artist-carvers are experimenting with new materials and pushing the boundaries of their own creativity

                                Serpentine moose fetish w. shell antlers and turquoise eyes by Jonas Hustito

The use of fetishes wrapped in sinew with beads of shell, coral and turquoise is powerful medicine against the witches. In Pueblo culture the most serious and abusive charge brought against a person is that of being a witch.  Reckless speech, dishonesty in regard to property, the possession of wealth from unknown sources, roaming about at night, and looking into windows are considered attributes of witches.  Lurking about at night around the house of a sick person is definitely a questionable act.  This house will often be watched by members of the family to catch a witch.  If caught, he will ask his captor not to expose him and offer a bribe, often a string of powerful and unusual beads or a potent animal fetish.  The captor should refuse the bribe because a witch resents losing his beads or fetishes and may, in time, proceed against his captor or the captor’s family.  The captor instead should insist on the witch ‘making his days,’ that is, vowing that in eight days to eight months he will kill one of his own relatives.  A witch is bound to his vows or death will come for him.

                                18th-19th Century Venetian glass trade beads.  Note rare red 'eye' beads
                                  and 'feather' beads, sought by Medicine Men for their magical powers.

While not every individual ailment is attributed to witchcraft, an epidemic is often thought to be the business of witches.  Lingering illnesses, as opposed to rapid recovery, are often blamed on witches.  Witches can control the weather by causing drought or wind.  At Laguna it is said that the wind can be aroused by yanking up a Jamestown weed by the roots.  Until the hole left by the roots is filled, the wind will haunt the pueblo.

A witch who feels hurt or injured will retaliate through bewitching.  In the pueblos one can never know for certain who is a witch.  It is very important to never give offense.  Abrupt and careless speech with an unfeeling attitude towards others is interrupted to be the stance of a witch.  Some anthropologists feel that the peaceful nature of the Pueblo people is linked to their witchcraft theories.  They do not defend themselves actively in quarrels.  Rather, they walk away because from their childhood elders have told them that no one can know the hearts of men.  There are witches everywhere.

                                       Koyemshi or Mudhead Ceremony, Pueblo of Zuni, 1879

Coming next week: Tomb of an Early American Magician