Although these fetiches are thus often individual property, members of
the Sa-ni-a-k'ia-kwe, and of the Eagle and Coyote gentes, as well as
priests included in the Prey God Brotherhood, are required to deposit
their fetiches, when not in use, with the "Keeper of the Medicine of the
Deer" (Nal-e-ton i-lo-na), who is usually, if not always, the head
member of the Eagle gens.
It rests with these memberships and these alone to perfect the fetiches
when found, and to carry on at stated intervals the ceremonials and
worship connected with them.
When not in use, either for such ceremonials or for the hunt, these
tribal fetiches are kept in a very ancient vessel of wicker-work, in the
House of the Deer Medicine (Nal-e-ton in-kwin), which is usually the
dwelling place of the keeper.