The otter was considered an especially powerful animal because it had power over both the land and the water. Its skin, when used in ceremonies, could represent the entire Earth because of this dual habitat (The Arapaho, p. 176). The skin was widely used in both tribal and personal sacred and ritual items.
Otter-skin was especially favored for making wraps for braids. The softness of otter skin was believed to symbolically “soften” or prevent injury from attacks (The Arapaho p. 176).