Zuni fetishes

A Zuni fetish, or wemawe, is a carved object of an animal or revered god. The spirit power of a fetish is given to it by its owner. Fetishes have been made for personal use for centuries.

The daily life of the Zunis is filled with ritual. They believe that all life--plant and animal--is interconnected, and they are attuned to the ebb and flow of seasons and the rhythms of the earth, which are nurtured by the Supreme Being.

The Zunis believe that human beings are the most complete beings in creation, which also makes them the least equipped to survive in the natural world. Because animals, with their fangs, claws, sharp eyes, and other keen senses, are closer to nature, they can act as messengers to the gods. So the Zunis learned to invoke the spirits of animals through fetishes that looked like animals and gods. Fetishes were ceremonially fed and treated with respect because it was believed fetishes were alive as well as very powerful. They had to be cared for because if they weren't, they would bring ill fortune.

Rocks whose shape naturally resembled animals or people were called "stone ancients" or Ahlashiwe, and served as the first fetishes. They were made of natural materials such as ivory, amber, turquoise, shell, alabaster, and onyx. Nowadays they are made of a great variety of materials. They are often embellished with arrowheads, shell, feathers, and beads to increase their power, and as offerings to the gods. Fetish necklaces were also created from the earliest times, the fetishes often strung together with shell beads called heshe, coral, turquoise, or argillite. Present day fetishes--usually frogs or turtles--are often mounted on silver.

Fetishes are employed to ask for help with treating disease, farming, gambling, hunting, fertility, rain, personal problems, and protection from witchcraft or one's enemies. They bring good luck, protect households, and play a role in tribal initiations and curing rituals. But only a pure heart and an honest appeal will get the desired results. They can belong to an individual, a secret society, a clan, or a tribe. Their power lies in the spirit dwelling within the fetish, not in the fetish itself.

The meanings of fetishes vary, not only from individual to individual, but also from clan to clan or society to society within the tribe. However, the power animal fetishes have universal meanings. The mountain lion of the north, which represents leadership, preparation, and agility, is first; followed by the bear of the west (healing, strength, and introspection); the badger of the south (stamina, tenacity, and passion); the wolf of the east (sociability, commitment, and stamina); the eagle of the skies (vision, illumination, and clarity); and the mole of the underground (acceptance, self-discovery, and grounding). Each animal is responsible for guarding his particular region.

The mountain lion, bear, coyote, wolf, and eagle are all valued for their hunting prowess. Their fetishes are worn in leather neck pouches to aid the success of a hunt. Other fetish animals are the buffalo, elk, fox, horse, hawk, owl, raven, snake, lizard, squirrel, beaver, butterfly, deer, hummingbird, otter, and rabbit, each with a particular group of admirable qualities.

Other fetishes are turtles, who are the spirit beings of ancestors; frogs, which symbolize rain, fertility, and abundance; corn maidens, or harvest goddesses; and ducks, who guard the corn maidens from humans. Frog fetishes are often buried near water sources to ensure a steady supply of water. The animal a fetish represents has certain qualities that can be developed by its owner if he concentrates.

Some fetishes represent deities such as the Earth Mother and Creator God. The Corn Mother aspect of the Earth Mother is symbolized by a sacred corn ear or a similar fetish, and is kept by its owner all his life. It has seeds so the life cycle continues. On his death, neighbors break up their similar fetish and plant the seeds in the fields of the dead person.

In the Zuni worldview, the power and energy of lightning are represented by a snake attacking its prey. The arrow-shaped heart line and the arrowheads found on many fetishes also demonstrate the Zuni belief in the underlying energy behind everything.

Collective fetishes that belong to ceremonial societies are the most powerful. The holiest are called ettowe, and are owned by the Rain Priests. They represent the forces of the Earth Mother and the power of Awonawilona, the bisexual creator god.

Medicine societies employ large animal fetishes that represent beast gods. They're kept in fetish jars and ceremonially fed every day. Ant societies use a fetish of a red ant tied to a horn medicine pouch to cure skin diseases. When placed on a pillow near the patient's face and accompanied by chanting, it can draw out the illness through the mouth.

Horn and antler fetishes are powerful and highly valued because they once were part of a living animal. They are associated with sea serpents, whose power is considered greater than the beast gods.

Fetish jars serve as homes or receptacles for fetishes when not in use. The top of the jar is for putting in or taking out the fetish. Sometimes leather medicine bags are stored in the jar also. The holes on the sides are used for ceremonially feeding the occupants to show respect and appease the spirit of the fetish. Food is usually a small pinch of sacred cornmeal or pollen. The jars are kept on a shelf in the kiva or ceremonial room at shoulder height.

Many different types of fetish jars exist. The hunting jar is the most common. Others are initiation jars, red ant medicine jars, witchcraft punishment jars, weather and snake bite jars, war medicine jars, gambling fetish jars, fire making jars, betting fetish jars, and scalp jars, to name a few. When the last person dies who knows the prayers and ceremonies associated with the fetish, the jar is buried or sold.

Although other tribes produce fetishes, the Zunis are the most skilled of all at carving fetishes. Tribes like the Navajo use Zuni fetishes to guard livestock, among other functions. Zunis also sell unconsecrated fetishes and fetish necklaces to tourists and collectors, and many individual artists have become famous for their work. Leekya Deyuse was a gifted, prolific Zuni fetish sculptor. His works command high prices at auctions. Other talented fetish artists include Teddie Weahkee and David Tsikewa.