Looking Out For You Bear & Bushytail

They are bound together with each one looking in the opposite direction as if they are watching one another's backs.  They were made by Peter Gasper, Jr.  The bear is carved from Picasso marble with inlaid turquoise eyes.  The bushytail is carved from dolomite, also with turquoise eyes.  They each have offering bundles of a mother of pearl arrowhead, with heishi, turquoise, and red beads.  PG is engraved on the bottom. More about bears and bushytails below.  

Size: 1" H x 2" L x 1" W

Bears are the guardians of the western gate in Zuni Pueblo.  They are associated with healing at all levels, protection, and a reminder to restore oneself during the winter months.  In some traditions a part of the bear is rubbed all over infants to imbue them with power, strength, and good health.

Wolves, coyotes and foxes all look the same in the distance.  In Zuni there is a word that translates into "bushytail" in English.

Wolves are intelligent, resourceful creatures that live in their own communities called packs.  They have excellent communication skills and are protective of one another.  The leaders of their community are called “alpha” and are usually males and females, although there are known to be alphas that are only females (yay to the matriarchy!).  The alphas are the only wolves in the pack who breed, and they also eat first.  They are the strongest and most intelligent wolves of the group.

Foxes are playful, clever, quick, and protective of their young.  They also mate for life, and are indigenous to every continent except Antarctica.

Coyotes figure prominently in Native American history.  In some tribes, they are powerful creation beings who teach us by doing things that turn out wrong, or even disastrous.  Oftentimes, they have a humorous quality.  In their natural environment they live in packs, hunt together, and protect one another.  Once one hears them yipping at night it is never forgotten.

Traditionally, Zuni carvings are symbolically fed cornmeal.   Each Zuni fetish comes in a box  You get to determine what this carving looks like to you!