dancing queens...

...and 'talking feathers' on a fascinating visit to the Lummi Centre, a small marketplace for traditional arts and artists supplies.
The Lummi People, the Lhaq'temish, are the original inhabitants of Washington's northernmost coast and southern British Columbia who lived on the shores and waters of the Puget Sound.
Earline and her mother Clarissa own a bead shop in the centre supplying beads and feathers, shells, bones and hoops and are, among many other talents, beaders, basket makers and weavers, Clarissa building a reputation with her work and selling her beads and basketwork at pow wows and canoe races.
Clarissa(now 86) and a Lummi Elder was also dancer and this is her dancing dress.
Made from buckskin and decorated with abalone, ermine, seed beads and carved wooden paddles the hem is trimmed with coins and deer hooves (extra)that jingle and tinkle when they move.
What a sight she must have been.

On hearing I am returning to Aus, Earline suggested I take a 'talking feather' with me (extra). Used as a substitute for a 'talking stick' (usually made of wood and feathers bound with hide strips and sometimes very elaborately decorated) I have been eyeing these up to add to the growing collection of memories to take home.
Knowing too that Aus customs would be eyeing them up with horror they are not to be packed away and we did discuss making a 'talking feather' at home.
It sounds like the perfect addition to every discussion situation from family councils to boardrooms!

'The talking stick, also called a speaker's staff, is an instrument of aboriginal democracy used by many tribes, especially those of indigenous peoples of the North-West coast of North America. The talking stick may be passed around a group or used only by leaders as a symbol of their authority and right to speak in public.
In a tribal council circle, a talking stick is passed around from member to member allowing only the person holding the stick to speak. This enables all those present at a council meeting to be heard, especially those who may be shy; consensus can force the stick to move along to assure that the "long winded" don't dominate the discussion;'

Early tomorrow morning I start the long haul back to Perth.
What a remarkable journey this has been and blip has been a big part of it meeting Bellingham hosts C and through blip and introducing Montanan M to blip.
What a wonderful (blipping) world!