Sharan Nikkel – Medicine Sticks

Description

For the medicine stick, Sharan Picks driftwood on the shores of lake Winnipeg and dries it. She keeps the original beauty of the wood, only using sand to get the dirt off. No pieces are ever broken, cut or shaped. She is inspired by the great spirit to paint what she sees in the wood.

She starts by painting the entire stick white, which represents cleanliness and the great spirit. She paints flowers representing the wild flowers of the beading circle. She paints the four medicines, Sage, Sweetgrass, Cedar, and Tobacco, berries used as medicine, leaves and leaf vines. Metis colours are painted in rings around the stick on one end. Dreamcatchers are added to ward off evil spirits, bells are added for beauty and sound.

Metis Colours:

Red: Blood of the Metis that was shed through the years while fighting for our rights.

Blue: The depth of our spirit

Green: Fertility of our Great Nation

White: Connection to Earth and our creator

Yellow: Prospect and Prosperity

Black: Dark period of the suppression and dispossession of the Metis land

Birch represents medicine, the leaves were used for bladder infections, purifying the blood and Vitamin C. Aspirin.

Shells represent water, fish, food, water for daily use, jewelry, the beauty of mother earth.

Leather, Suede, sinew is used for hanging the stick and start decoration beads o strips or threads.

Medicine Bag: Sweetgrass, Sage, Tobacco, and Cedar. She decorates the closure with shell. The ends are sewn together with sinew along with the closure. The four medicines should never touch or be stored with metal. Once the medicine is in the bag it should not be opened. The ends are beaded with metis colours. The medicine bag should be made of leather not cloth. You can keep a rock, piece of loved ones hair or a sentimental item. The medicines are the size of a pipe bowl. Sweetgrass for strength, Tobacco for gratitude, Sage for knowledge, and Cedar for protection.

Additional information