Traditional Talking Stick
Traditional Talking Stick
The Talking Stick is a tool used in many Native American Traditions when
a council is called. It allows all council members to present their
Sacred Point of View. The Talking Stick is passed from person to person
as they speak and only the person holding the stick is allowed to talk
during that time period. The Answering Feather is also held by the
person speaking unless the speaker address a question to another council
member. At that time, the Answering Feather is passed to the person
asked to answer the query. Every member of the meeting must listen
closely to the words being spoken, so when their turn comes, they do not
repeat unneeded information or ask impertinent, questions. Indian
children are taught to listen from age three forward; they are also
taught to respect another's viewpoint. This is not to say that they may
not disagree, but rather they are bound by their personal honor to allow
everyone their Sacred Point of View. People responsible for holding any
type council meeting are required to make their own Talking Stick. The
Talking Stick may be used when they teach children, hold council, make
decisions regarding disputes, hold Pow-Wow gatherings, have storytelling
circles, or conduct a ceremony where more then one person will speak.
Since each piece of material used in the Talking Stick speaks of the
personal Medicine of the stick owner, each Talking Stick will be
different. The Qualities of each type of Standing Person (Tree) brings
specific Medicine. White Pine is the Peace Tree, Birch symbolizes truth,
Evergreens represent the continued growth of all things. Cedar
symbolizes cleansing. Aspen is the symbol for seeing clearly since there
are many eye shapes on the truth. Maple represents gentleness. Elm is
used for wisdom; Mountain Ash for protection; Oak for strength; Cherry
for expression, high emotion, or love. Fruit woods are for abundance and
walnut or pecan for gathering of energy or beginning new projects. Each
person making a Talking Stick must decide which type of Standing Person
(Tree) will assist their needs and add needed medicine to the Councils
held. The ornamentation of each stick all have meaning. In the Lakotah
Tradition, red is for life, yellow is for knowledge, blue is for prayer
and wisdom, white is for spirit, purple is for healing, orange is for
feeling kinship with all living things, black is for clarity and focus.
The type of feathers and hide used on a Talking Stick are very important
as well. The Answering Feather is usually an Eagle Feather, which
represents high ideals, truth as viewed from the expansive eye of the
eagle, and the freedom that comes from speaking total truth to the best
of one's ability. The Answering Feather can also be the feather of a
Turkey, the Peace Eagle of the south, which brings peaceful attitudes as
well as the give and take necessary in successful completion of
disputes. In the Tribe that see Owl as good Medicine, the Owl feather
may also be used to stop deception from entering the Sacred Space of the
Council. The skins, hair or hides used in making a Talking Stick brings
the abilities, talents, gifts and medicine of those creatures-beings to
council in a variety of ways. Buffalo brings abundance; Elk brings
physical fitness and stamina; deer brings gentleness; rabbit brings the
ability to listen with big ears; the hair from a horse's tail or mane
brings perseverance and adds connection to the earth and to the spirits
of the wind. If an illness of heart, mind, spirit, or body has affected
the group gathering, snake skin may be wrapped around the Talking Stick
so that healing and transmuting of those poisons can occur. The Talking
Stick is the tool that teaches each of us to honor the Sacred Point of
View of every living creature.----Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
---enrollment # 1009
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