The custom to build and carry a small bag or backpack where to keep personal amulets had spread throughout North America. These objects were made in many different skins (skins of otter, deer or bird) and the choice of type was determined by the "vision" that its author had. If, in his mystical experience of the warrior had seen a magpie then that was the skin that had to use for his medicine bag. The content, however, was the most diverse. It was always objects or plants that had a prominent place in the vision he had and that it was believed would protect the wearer wearing.
There are museums, some of these bags of medicine with their content but are still quite rare to find items on the antiques market.
The reason is quite simple: faith in the power of the object was that its owner would not have ever voluntarily discarded. Suffice it to say that, in Plains, a warrior who had lost her bag (for example, in battle) could not possibly make another. The only way to be still protected by a "good medicine" was to steal the amulet in a shipment of an enemy warrior.
Even when missionaries completed their work of evangelizing the Indians converted, while agreeing not to bring more than just wearing the bag, categorically refused to give it or sell it to anyone and always chose instead to bury him in a place known only to them.
my medicine bag
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