Post #382973 by timidtiki on Wed, May 28, 2008 11:28 AM

SHAMAN'S TALKING (WALKING) STICK:

I'm not sure I understand the use of a "talking stick" in the cultural traditions of different tribal groups, but I extracted the following statement from another web site: "Talking Sticks are used all over the world but is most famous within the Native American cultures. When sitting in a group to discuss issues or to share wisdom, each person is offered the Talking Stick. This is the symbol that you are being honored to speak and be heard without interruption. When the speaker is complete, and passes the Stick to the left, he says " AH Ho Mi Taquessa" and the group replies with "Ah Ho". This means that we honor your words to be the truth and you have been heard."

The Talking (Walking) Stick pictured below is a Native North American (Alaskan) carving made from fossil whale bone and appeared to me to have a somewhat "tiki" connection in that the stick viewed from above has the image of a face with a protruding tongue. The walking stick portion of this object is not complete but will be made of wood.

The images:

Shaman's Talking Stick (front)

Shaman's Talking Stick (top - with tongue)

Shaman's Talking (Walking) Stick (in hand for scale)

Does anyone have any insight on the "talking stick" tradition among the Maori?