Ceremonial Cane

About this object

History of use

To deal with stomach ailments, this cane was taken to the grinding stone and a few grains of wood were scraped off the end to be mixed into the medicine for the patient to take.

Cultural context

The apprentice to a medicine man would carve the cane under the tutelage of the senior. The senior medicine man would then imbue the cane with a specific spirit.

Physical description

Ceremonial cane for curing stomach aches. Rectangular tapering cane with cross-hatched and zigzag etchings.