Guardians and Charms

While the invisible, organizing, creative, and destructive forces – The Master High Above, Big Raven, and kalau – are deities or spirits of the entire tribe (with the exception of those that service individual shamans), the protectors or guardians belong each to a family, an individual, and in some cases to a whole village. In general, the guardians form a group of objects that are supposed to take care of the welfare of a man, and keep away all evil from him. The particular function of the guardians depends upon the function with which they are charged. The same little figure may act as the guardian of a family or of an individual. Nevertheless some guardians have definite form and duties.