Juniper Assemblage (complete)

Following the month-long ritual of applying the juniper bark to the paper-mache reindeer, the actuation was performed at CSUSB in the courtyard of the Art Department.
It began with the ceremonial "wounding" and then the placement of the shaman of intent in the abdominal cavity. Each leg of the deer was filled with dirt from four distinct areas of the California landscape. The body cavity was filled with sage and cedar also gathered from sacred areas with ritual intent.
The carved wooden shaman was bundled with the written messages of intent and the obsidian point. Then the Universal Child Kachina was suspended in the chest cavity. The kachina was suspended with copper wires from an artist's drawing pencil (one from my childhood art supplies) that was inserted inside the head of the deer across the jaw area. The kachina, therefore is "floating" and mobile when moved.
There are removable panel coverings for each of the openings. An Impala's hide, fur and tail has been used for the panels, the underside of the deer and as the actual tail. The deer has real antlers, matching red-tail hawk feathers, crow feathers, blue heron feather, beads of amethyst and hand made glass, etc.
The basket is for additional messages of intent to be added and the small basket is used for "feeding" the medicine fetish.
No living animals were hurt in this project. The antlers and Impala hide were both found at yard sales and my use of them are meant to honor the native species that have been exploited for financial gain.