Zuni Badger Fetish

thingiverse

In days long past, when all living beings shared a single family, Póshaiank'ia, our revered founder, lived with his children in the City of Mists, the central hub of the world's Medicine societies. The City of Mists stood as a crossroads, connecting the great regions that surrounded it. At the heart of each region lay an ancient sacred site, Téthläshinakwïn, a towering mountain peak. In the North rose the Mountain Yellow, its peak shining bright against the sky. To the West loomed the Mountain Blue, its rugged slope a challenge to those who dared to climb. The South was home to the Mountain Red, its fiery spirit burning fiercely within its depths. Meanwhile, the East boasted the Mountain White, its snow-capped peak glistening like a diamond in the sunlight. The Badger, stout of heart but strong-willed, was chosen by Póshaiank'ia as the guardian and master of the South. "You shall guard against evil's approach from this quarter," he said, "and receive messages from my children, that they may communicate with me." The Badger's ruddy coat, marked with black and white equally, made him a fitting symbol of the land of summer, where day and night stood in balance. As the guardian of the South, the Badger was tasked with protecting his people from harm, guiding them along the paths of life, and becoming a maker of their destinies.