Dear list members: I received this email and am hoping someone can help us figure out this mystery. Rebecca ========== Thank you for your response to my inquiry. Yes, I have contacted the Seminole Nation, and await their reply. The stick was was a dontation, but no explanation of its origin and purpose were included. Again, the stick is about six feet long and made of wood. It actually resembles a very long walking stick. Its entire length is painted and carved. The person who donated it did list some of the scenes that are depicted. These scenes include: mother nature, moon (boy) and sun (girl who was the best in the sky); bear, fish, and eagle (fish made a bet of who would catch him first, the bear or eagle); northern lights. There are two more that have not been described, as they consist of renderings of shapes and objects that occur in nature. Anyhow, it has also been considered that this piece may not be something indigenous, but simply happened to be made by a member of the Seminole. Thank you for your interest, and if you think of something let me know. Jeremy Stearns [email protected]