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The Talking Stick
The Talking Stick is used whenever a council of elders, peace council, war council, the teaching of children, story telling circles, Clan Council, or the Governing Council gathers together to discuss matters concerning the welfare of the nation, clan, town, the teaching of the children the traditions of our people, or the telling of stores that relate to the culture and ways of our people.
The Talking Stick is a possession of each individual who has reached the age of earned respectability by the other members of his clan, town, or nation. Each person must respect his or her Talking Stick with the same respect as they do their bow and arrow, spear, or knife. The woman must respect the Talking Stick as they would their pots, hole punches, bone needles, scrappers, etc.
Whenever a council meeting is in session, each person who expects or wants to speak, must have in his or her possession their own personal Talking Stick. When anyone wants to speak, they must hold their Talking Stick outstretched in front of themselves. The holder of the council will point out who is to speak. All others must lay their Talking Sticks aside, and listen to the one who is holding their stick. While speaking, no one is to interrupt or cause disharmony to the one who is speaking; listening to what he or she has to say. Whenever that person lays his or her Talking Stick down, anyone who wishes to speak must raise his or her Talking Stick in front of them. Without speaking, they must wait their turn to be acknowledged by holder of the council meeting.
When anyone speaks while holding the Talking Stick, they are to be speaking the absolute truth from their heart and mind.
When someone tells stories or passes on stories to children or young adults, if he or she is holding the Talking Stick, they must be considered as knowledgeable of the stories and must have wisdom he or she is speaking on. They must be considered as telling the truth.
Therefore, your Talking Stick must represent your personal character as you see yourself in the eyes of the Creator. You must place upon the Talking Stick three of your medicine spirits. The Talking Stick tells the difference of each medicine of each person. Following is a list of the medicine spirits that you must choose from. Choose one from each list that best defines your personal character.
MEDICINES OF THE WOOD
1 Cedar - Truth
2 Dogwood- Peace
3 Oak - Strength
4 Willow - Wisdom
5 Sycamore - Life (Seeker of all sides of a situation)
6 Cherry - Harmony and Good Relations with others
7 Pine - Much Medicine
8 Walnut - Provider
9 Hickory - Protector and Hunter
10 Locust - Strong Will
MEDICINES OF THE FEATHERS
1 Red-Tailed Hawk - Highest Ranking Feather to the Over-Hill Cherokee (Great Honor)
2 Eagle - The Ability to see past the words being spoken into the Mind of the Speaker
3 Turkey - Peaceful. One who seeks Harmony with All
4 Owl - Alert, Watchful, Always on Guard
5 Crow or Blackbird - Talker, Well Informed
MEDICINES OF THE SKINS
1 Bear - Strong
2 Deer - Observant, Fast Reactor
3 Rabbit - Good Listener, Gentle
4 Wolf - Warrior
5 Panther - Very Careful
6 Fox - Wise
7 Raccoon - Steady
8 Beaver - Reliable
9 Squirrel - Resourceful
MEDICINES OF THE BEADS Optional - person's own discretion
1 Red - Birth and Life
2 Yellow - Kindness
3 White - Spiritual Truth
4 Brown - Mother Earth
5 Blue - Sky
6 Black - The Unknown
7 Green - Forest
8 Grey - Elder Age
The Talking Stick is to the Over-Hill Cherokee that the Bible is to the Christian. As when you swear on the Bible, when your hand is in place on the Talking Stick, and you speak, only the truth can be spoken.
This is the way you communicate your honest and truthful thoughts to your fellow man in the harmony or the Creator's Spirit. Holding a Talking Stick and speaking means that you are in harmony with yourself and the Creator, the trees, birds, and animals that share Mother Earth with you.
This is the tradition of the Talking Stick of the Over-Hill Cherokee People.
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