American Indians have used fetishes throughout recorded history. Fetish carvings are believed to hold magical powers and protect the owner or craftsmen from various problems of mind or body. The Zuni Indian Fetish must be taken care of and are given offerings of cornmeal and kept in special turquoise encrusted fetish pots or pouches. It is also believed that the care a Native American Fetish receives is directly proportional to the protection it will provide.
Fetishes sold today are more correctly referred to as carvings, as they have not been blessed by a medicine man. True Zuni animal fetishes are not commercially sold.
