Regardless of the ownership the care of the fetish is always the responsibility of an individual. Special care must be taken to see that the fetish is properly fed, admired, and cared for. Fetishes are believed to feed on cornmeal while they are kept in a speacial pot or pouch. Ground turquoise is often mixed with the cornmeal. The better treatment a fetish receives, the better performance it is likely to provide.
Most fetishes relate to animals.
Most always these animals are animals of prey. They are generally admired for their strong hearts. The Zuni Indians of New Mexico believe strongly in six cardinal guardian fetishes. Each is symbolic of a direction and has a specific color which is synonymous with the direction. The power and strength of a fetish is obtained by placing the nostrils of the fetish to one's mouth and taking deep breaths.