Jeremy began this 4" long talking stick by cutting a tree branch, chip carving a leafed design on 2 sides, painting the leaves yellow with red tips and then Jeremy added a key ring to the top. The leafed design represents a branch of the ash tree. Ash trees are part of the Penobscot Creation Myth - so are sacred to them. Penobscots are one of five tribes making up the Wabanaki Confederacy.
The stick is about " long and about 1/2" in diameter. The key ring is 1" in diameter.
Wood carving is a traditional art form that the Penobscots were using prior to European contact. Jeremy Violette is the youngest Penobscot chip carver that I know of. Jeremy does traditional chip carving with incised work -
Chip
carving is a traditional art form that the Penobscots were using prior
to European contact. Jeremy Violette is the youngest Penobscot chip carver that I know of. Traditional chip carvers are few and it is great to see a new addition to this age old craft!
Talking sticks were used in tribal council meetings, the only one who could speak was the one holding the talking stick. You will receive more information about talking sticks with this purchase
Talking sticks were decorated, but only here in Maine and eastern Canada do the designs include chip carving. Chip carving is unique to the North East among Native Americans.