The izze-kloth or medicine cord is a sacred cord worn by

Apache The Apache () are a group of culturally related Native American tribes in the Southwestern United States, which include the Chiricahua, Jicarilla, Lipan, Mescalero, Mimbreño, Ndendahe (Bedonkohe or Mogollon and Nednhi or Carrizaleño an ...

medicine men A medicine man is a traditional healer and spiritual leader among the indigenous people of the Americas. Medicine Man or The Medicine Man may also refer to: Films * ''The Medicine Man'' (1917 film), an American silent film directed by Clifford S ...

that is believed to confer strength and special powers of healing to the wearer. The ''izze-kloth'' is usually made from strands of animal hide and its length is punctuated with beads and shells. Often, an ''izze-kloth'' has four strands, each dyed a different color (usually, yellow, blue, white and black).

Etiquette

The ''izze-kloth'' holds great sacred symbolism and people regarded as unbelievers in the cord are almost never permitted to view, touch or discuss it. Nineteenth-century ethnological reports on Native American beliefs often commented on the difficulty in understanding the purpose and use of the ''izze-kloth'' because "''the Apache look upon these cords as so sacred that strangers are not allowed to see them, much less handle them or talk about them''."

References

Apache culture Native American culture American Indian relics {{NorthAm-native-stub

Etiquette

See also

References