SPOTSPEOPLE                                          ARIZONA   NATIVE  GIFTS                        YOU CAN FIND US ON THE CORNER                                 IN BLACK CANYON CITY , AZ

FETISHES OFFERINGS FETISHES ARE OFTEN SEEN WITH A BUNDLE OF CORAL , TURQUOISE, OR AN ARROWHEAD TIED TO THE BACK OR SIDE.  THESE ARE OFFERINGS MADE TO THE FETISH FOR FAVORS ALREADY RECEIVED OR HOPED FOR IN THE FUTURE.  IF A CARVING IS BELIEVED TO HAVE POWER, IT IS A FETISH.

FETISHES AND THEIR MEANINGS THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FETISH ANIMALS AND THEIR POSSIBLE USEFULNESS FOR THE OWNER ARE THE BASIS OF THEIR SELECTION.  FOR EXAMPLE THE MOLE FETISH IS TO PROTECT THE FIELDS FORM RODENTS.  FROG FETISHES ARE VALUED FOR THE FERTILITY BECAUSE OF THE NUMEROUS TADPOLE THEY PRODUCE AN THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH WATER.  THE MOUNTAIN LION, WOLF, AND OTHER PREDATOR ANIMAL FETISHES PROVIDE THE OWNER WITH THE POWER OVER THE DEER AND OTHER GAME ANIMALS.  WHENEVER A HUNT IS SUCCESSFUL, THE FETISHES, WHICH GAVE THE SUCCESS, ARE ALLOWED THE FIRST CEREMONIAL FEEDING OF THE GAME ANIMAL.

BUY WHAT YOU LIKE THE CARVINGS ARE AN ART FORM AND MUST BE JUDGED INDIVIDUALLY. WHETHER YOUR TASTES RUN TO THE FINELY DETAILED (AND EXPENSIVE) CONTEMPORARY MINIATURES SCULPTURES, OR TO THE MORE PRIMITIVE OLDER STYLES, WHEN YOU PURCHASE A NATIVE AMERICAN FETISH, YOU ARE THE OWNER OF REPRESENTATIVE PART OF THE NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURE.

CARE OF FETISHES SINCE MOST FETISHES ARE MADE OF STONE, THEY REQUIRE LITTLE OR NO CARE. FETISHES MAY BE DUSTED WITH A SOFT, DRY CLOTH,  THE LEATHER SINEW OR FEATHER ON THE BUNDLES SHOULD BE KEPT DRY OR THEY MAY STRETCH OR DETOERIORATE. OLDER FETISHES OFTEN APPEAR SOILED OR DIRTY AND SHOULD BE LEFT IN THEIR ORIGINAL CONDITION TO MAINTAIN THIER VALUE.    DUWAYNE TURPEN