medicine pouch

Encyclopedia Article

Article

Also called a medicine bundle, a medicine pouch is a traditional Native American container for various items that have totemic, spiritual, or supernatural power. The Navajo word for medicine pouch is jish, which is not only a container for ceremonial goods but also describes the ceremonial goods themselves. Medicine pouches often contain pollen, which is used in rituals and chants.

Photo Credit: 

 
"Navajo medicine pouch, circa 1900." (1996_46_11). Farmington Museum, farmington, New Mexico. All Rights Reserved. Use with permission only.

Term Type: