badger
Taxidea taxus
The badger is considered an especially powerful animal because of its power over both the space above the earth and the space below it (compare this to the otter). The badger is ceremonially important in the Sun Dance ritual. Because of its digging ability, it is said to be the possessor of all the medicinal roots that grow below the earth (The Arapaho, p. 419). It was another of the animals who gave themselves to humankind at the time when the Sacred Flat Pipe was obtained. He said “I am always on the alert during the night, and my ways are such that they are pleasant; besides, I have strength and endurance against evil. Oh yes, my habits are meed and humble” (Dorsey, p. 206).