Feather Fan for my Grandson

This is a fan I made recently for my grandson's second birthday. My late husband, who was of the Chipewa tribe, made feather fans for my children and myself. I never watched him make one but felt I could possibly replicate one for this special gift. I kind of knew the basics and thought that maybe my hands would be guided to make one. I added a dream catcher from a business of his, which made Native American items (staffs, drums, papooses, fans, etc.) . I bound the handle with black and white leather, which were his native colors. I added strips of black, yellow, and red fabric from the walutas (prayer flags) that were on the special tree at the Sundance ceremony I attended last August in Oklahoma. Beads which were blown at his business were included and the feathers are a turkey wing. The ivory elephants are for my daughter and her husband because elephants are especially significant to them. I was told that Native American mothers would fan their babies with sage smoke to calm and soothe them during difficult times.