The earliest Native American fetishes are called Ahlashiwe or stone ancients by the Zunis. They were naturally formed stones that seemed to resemble people or animals, sometimes made more realistic with the features accentuated by a carver. Different animals were thought to bring different attributes. Bears are commonly seen, thought to bring the keeper strength.
Some Native American fetishes will have an inlaid turquoise or coral "heartline" extending from the mouth to the center of the body. One of the possible explanations for this heartline is that it represents a time in Zuni mythology when animals totally dominated man. The Great Spirit sent a bolt of lightning that turned all man-eating animals into stone. The lightning is represented by an inlaid or painted line. Another possible interpretation is that the heartline gives the fetish healing or medicinal power.
As you can see above, we've given this tradition our own spin by keeping that heartline in our hex bead buffalo earrings.
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