MEDICINE BUNDLES

Among manyNative Americanpeoples, it is common to gather sacred and powerful stones, herbs, and otherobject-personsinto bundles that then serve as the focus of respectful ceremonialism (including elaborateritualswhen the bundles are unwrapped and everyday signals of polite etiquette). They can be stored in family homes or in tribal/national repositories. The bundles and their constituent members can be considered to be persons in their own right, as shown by the offering to them oftobaccoand other expressions of respect.