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Bird on Hand |
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The reproduction rights for this image belong to Jim Zintgraff.
It may not be reproduced without written permission.
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| Adjacent to the profile shaman is another of the rare white shamans, shown in the traditional frontal pose. On his arm he bears what appears to be a bird. Birds are traditional messengers, and culture heroes are often assisted by their winged familiars who serve as their far-seeing eyes. A more prosaic explanation may be that this is the portrait of one particular shaman whose trademark was a tamed bird. Many of the shaman figures are drawn with objects hanging from or sitting on their arms. Clearly not all of them are birds, but they may represent various medicine bundles or charms which, in historic times, were often carried in pouches. |
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