Badgers
The badger - a tenacious and stout omnivore, represents the southern direction in the directional set and is associated with the color red. Often the badger is carved in pipestone, onyx, sandstone and mahogany obsidian - any & every stone that is red. The Zuni believe because the badger possesses knowledge of roots and medicinal plants and herbs; the badger presence is helpful in curing illness and wounds. Badgers are attributed with passion, control, persistence as well as earthiness and they're associated with the sun. The badger clan; one of Zuni's major clans - is entrusted at the winter solstice to encourage the sun to return from it's southern sojourn. Carvers relish depicting the badger's telltale stripe, often carving from a carefully chosen piece of rock that has a vein perfectly placed to represent the stripe.
