Nature Studies & Outdoor Skills

A Native American medicine pouch is a container for items believed to protect or give spiritual powers to its owner. The medicine bag is considered a very precious possession which represents a person's spiritual life and its contents are generally considered holy by the tribal community. The bags might be very plain or richly decorated and are meant to give guidance, good luck, good health, protection, abundance and even love to the individuals who carry them. Students will cut leather and shape their pouch as desired, then stitch with imitation sinew. A rawhide cord will be used to hang the pouch and can be attached using one of two different methods. It can then be decorated with beads, antler or feathers. Children who are 12 years of age and older are welcome.

Feather fans are quite significant to Native Americans and have a long history of being used in Pow Wows and in the Native American Church. They are also used in spiritual "smudging" ceremonies with sage or cedar. Our instructor will share Native American legends and stories with you as you make your own feather fan using a piece of corrugated cardboard covered in leather with feathers added and shaped to fit your hand. Children who are 10 years of age and older are welcome.