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Paddle, miniature, medical. Made of wood, rectangular shape blace 5.5 cm long, curving for 1.7 cm and decreasing from 2 cm to 0.7 cm in width on shaft. Shaft oval in shape, grip end straight cut. Decorated on two sides, one side black pencil design above blade with a painted red X design on blade, small black pencil dot and painted broad red stripe on tip. Second side, black pencil design above blade and two black spots. Smears of red paint on the shaft.;;

1912 p;;

1912/04-1912/07, Six Nations Reserve, Brant County, Ontario, 1912/04 - 1912/07/16, (DOCUMENTATION)(Waugh) "Miniature Paddle (Med. Art) - Mrs. D. Jack" (Sapir Volume) "Miniature paddle, medical. Mrs. D. Jack." (CULTURE REMARKS) Attribution by provenance. (COMMENTS)Spoons were carved in answer to dreams occuring during indisposition or illness. The dreams were interpreted by a local seer or medical practitioner, who decided upon the design, kind of wood, the presentation of dream-objects to the patient to bring about sure recovery. Failure to comply meant continued illness and maybe in the end death. This custom was based on the belief that the soul could depart from the body (Waugh, 68) and enter any object or go to any place to acquire wisdom (Parker, 61) and that satisfaction of its desires must be obtained to bring about its return (Waugh, 68).