Seven Sisters Hand Carved and Painted Hawk Bell Rattle With Rabbit Fur and Buckskin

Getting to see the Seven Sisters in a way like never before last night inspired this piece. The Pleiades constellation, more commonly called "Seven Sisters", is a night sky observation of significance for a number of cultures and peoples. From late September to early March, most visible November to January, the Seven Sisters have help guide my people here in harvest, fish, and hunt for thousands of years.

In honor of this incredible connection I set out this morning to craft a medicine stick doubling in the style of a Woodland tambourine. I've had this piece of curved New River driftwood for almost a year now waiting for the perfect spirit. Buckskin was used to lace 7 brass bells through 14 brass beads and the driftwood itself. Buckskin hand grip, and in honor of the harvest and hunt, three rabbit fur collars, and two white turkey feather tassels. The rabbit and turkey both taken respectfully for meat, honored in nothing being wasted. I used black and white oil-based paints to depict other stars in the night sky around the Seven Sisters represented by the bells.