Otter Bund

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The otter association is one of the mystical animals . It is a type of medicine societies of the Iroquois - Indians . The Otter Association consists of women who want to appease otters and other aquatic animals that are said to have an impact on health, happiness and fate. The otter is considered the chief of aquatic animals. It is therefore considered to be very powerful. The members of this federation take part in public festivals. After the tobacco-throwing ceremony, the three officials begin to use a long corn husk to sprinkle water on everyone they come across. The women keep spraying until someone grabs the bucket of water and throws the contents over the woman's head. During the midwinter ceremony in particular , the water often freezes. However, the women who are believed to be possessed by the otter spirit feel nothing.

The otter's pipe ends the ceremony. The women then claim that they did not know what they were doing because they were caught in the otter spirit. The otter society knows neither songs nor dances. Their ceremony serves only to thank the aquatic animals and to gain their benevolence.

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