Talking Sticks

Talking sticks are a great way to learn a little about Native American Culture, use up some items in your supply closet that have been waiting to make something beautiful, and clean up the sticks in your yard. It's also an opportunity to have a conversation about talking and listening. Here we go!

Native American Culture - Talking Sticks were used during Council Meetings. Only the person holding the Talking Stick was allowed to speak, which means they were given everyone's undivided attention. The Talking Sticks were symbolically decorated with various colors and items. In the Lakotah tradition, red symbolized life, yellow was used for knowledge, blue for wisdom, and purple for healing. Sometimes strands of hair from the great buffalo was attached to the stick, asking that the power and strength of the great animal be given to the speaker. Eagle feathers attached to the stick were to give the speaker courage.

Sharing - Topics of conversation while creating your own Talking Sticks could include sayings and beliefs about talking. Did you grow up hearing that "Children should be seen but not heard"? Do you remember, "Loose lips sink ships"? What other sayings do you remember?

Making Your Own Talking Stick - Start with a stick or a dowel. We've used both and both work equally well. Get out the ribbon, yarn, feathers, beads, lace, old jewelry, and other baubles. If you're going to use your Talking Stick as a decoration in a plant, start about 2 inches from the bottom. This gives you an undecorated end to push into the soil. Begin with, perhaps, a bit of ribbon. Hold the end of the ribbon in place with a Glue Dot and then wrap it around to decorate the first few inches of your Talking Stick. Continue on with various other embellishments until you reach the top. Ta Da!


The Talking Stick in the picture is done up in various shades of purple and now lives happily in a plant. It adds a lovely splash of color!