In the early 1990s I attended a sweat lodge led by an elder of the Sac and Fox people (Native American), who was then in his late sixties. He told us that traditionally Sak and Fox women, grandmothers, were the healers and that they used otter skins for healing.

His grandmother would take poeple into the sweat lodge and work with an otter skin to heal them. It was said that the otter came alive, and he said you could hear its calls.

His grandmother was a noted healer in her community, but he said that to his knowledge she was one of the last of the grandmother healers using otter skins. The practice seemed to have died out after her generation.

River Otters, Yellowstone Lake Photographic Print
Rosing, Norbert
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Sea Otters Poster
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Much more information on otter spirits in North America is coming soon!

Otters in Ireland

Recently I was surprised to read that the beliefs about otters in ancient Ireland were similar to those in North America.

Much more information on otter spirits in Ireland is coming soon!

Otters in South America

Lake Balbina, near Manaus, Brazil

Giant River Otter Rests on a Log at Lake Balbina Photographic Print
Duplaix, Nicole
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Otters in Asia

Information on otter spirits in Asia is coming soon!

Family of Asian Short-Clawed River Otters Photographic Print
Duplaix, Nicole
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