Arcadia Productions Daniel Walking Bear Sacred Native American Crafts & Rattles

Bob Cat Rattle

Daniel Walking Bear
Native American
Crafts And Rattles

p.o. box 1744
Amherst, Va
24521

Cow Skull and Rattles

My name is Daniel Strumb. I am a member of the Eagle Clan Shawnee Nation of Ohio, which was recognized as a descendant band/tribe of the historic Shawnee Nation by the State of Ohio General assembly: SR number 1081, January 10th 1988.

I am by trade a rattle maker, starting 18 years ago, self taught, apprenticing to this craft, and still doing so. My first rattles were very traditional designs. Over the years people kept asking for animals to be painted on them. Now these rattles have various animal forms including birds, mammals, insects, reptiles, and traditional designs of the Western Hemisphere.

Rattles are made using vine and tree grown gourds, rawhide, paper mache', steer horns, etc. For fun I have even made rattles using small cardboard containers like match boxes, and the "very traditional" aluminum salt and pepper shakers, however, I do Not make turtle shell rattles. This is of my own choosing.
The designs or animals painted on my rattles are according to what the spirit of the rattle wants, not what I wish to paint on it. This also includes any fur, feathers, or beads added to a rattle.
I paint Western Hemisphere animals or traditional designs from Canada, the US, Mexico, unless it is from a specific ceremony, and then I do not paint it at all. Respect of another Nation's culture is one thing I will not infringe upon.

When I make Dance Sticks, or Spirit Callers. I start with the skull, listening to what it wants on it, i.e. design, color, beads. I buy the skulls I use at Powwows and festivals. They are not road kills, and I DO NOT kill for anything I use. No two spirit callers are the same. Each is a unique individual, one of a kind.
I use specifically twisted branches or small trees I find dead here in the foothills of the Blue Ridge, including Poplar, Dogwood, Cherry, Hickory with natural twists, or Cedar or Willow for an extra special caller.
Feathers come from Chicken, Domestic Turkey, Pea Hen, or Guinea Hen. Any Parrot or Rock Dove feathers come from U.S. breeders only. I also use hand painted imitation Eagle and Hawk feathers.

When I make the SHIELDS,
I again start with the skull, letting its spirit describe how it wants to appear. Next I wrap the hoop in leather and fur, center it, and then lace the leather to the hoop using sinew. Then I listen to the skull and the shield together for the correct design before painting it. Finally, I add the shield's necklace of hairpipes, crow beads, cones, feathers, horsehair, etc.
A variation of the shield is to use an animal's face mask on a hoop also wrapped with fur of the same species. For example, I have made a shield of a Coyote's face and fur with glass Crow beads and feathers.

Gourd Dippers were originally used in sweat lodges, and still are. Mine, however, are painted with acrylics with a clear protective coat over the design, and are Not Recommended for sweat lodges, since the heat causes the paint to peal.
Scoops are leftover pieces from gourds I cut in making dippers. Each is unique, both in the gourd from which it is made, and in the design I put on it.

My Rattles and other crafts ARE NOT toys! They ARE NOT for children especially under 10 years. They contain glass beads, small stones, and corn kernels. Though I use acrylic paint, there is a chemical reaction when saliva comes in contact with the paint, so they are not suitable for infants or small children.

I live in the woods in an old Airstream trailer with no electricity, running water, or telephone . My neighbors include Deer, Bear, Bobcats, Crows, & Jays.

contact:
arcadia@iwinet.com