Talking stick facts for kids
The talking stick is a special tool used by many Indigenous groups, especially those from the Northwest Coast of North America. It's also called a speaker's staff. This stick helps everyone have a turn to speak in a group.
Sometimes, the talking stick is passed around. Each person holds it when it's their turn to talk. Other times, only leaders use it. For them, it's a symbol of their power. It shows they have the right to speak in public.
In Western Africa, Akan chiefs have similar speaker's staffs. These staffs often have gold-covered tops. They became a sign of a leader's power in the 1800s.
In New Zealand, the Māori people use carved ceremonial sticks called tokotoko. These are also symbols of authority. They are used during formal public speaking events.
What is a Talking Stick?
On the Northwest Coast, talking sticks are carved from wood. Some sticks have a single symbol at the top. Others are fully carved with special family symbols, called clan crests. These crests belong to the chief or the person who speaks for the group. Sometimes, shells are added to the staffs.
These staffs look like small totem poles. They are still used in special ceremonies today. At gatherings, like a potlatch, a chief or their chosen speaker holds the talking stick. A potlatch is a big feast and ceremony. The speaker uses the stick to announce messages to everyone. They might tap the stick on the ground to make a point. Sometimes, a feather is used instead of a talking stick.
Talking Sticks in Art
Talking sticks are an important part of modern Northwest Coast art. They have a lot of meaning. For example, a Tsimshian woodcarver named David A. Boxley made a special talking stick top. This was for the 1990 Goodwill Games. It had symbols from both the United States and Russia. Athletes carried this staff from Spokane, Washington to Oregon and then to Seattle, Washington.
Talking sticks are also shown in totem poles. In 1988, a Kwakwakaʼwakw artist named Richard Hunt carved the world's largest totem pole. It showed a Cedar Man holding a very tall talking stick. This stick was 4.3 meters (14 feet) high! Totem poles also show chiefs carrying talking sticks and special coppers.
