The medicine bag is the central symbol of the story. It represents identity as it relates to heritage and the theme of Connecting With Heritage and Culture. The medicine bag contains only three items: a piece of iron, sage, and a pebble. Each item carries significant meaning related to the vision quest of Martin’s ancestor Iron Shell. Iron Shell went on this quest despite the ways of his people dying away and the anger and skepticism of those around him. The iron symbolizes adaptation and survival, as it originated from the “white man’s” world yet became spiritually significant and a means of survival for Iron Shell. The pebble represents the sacred place of the vision and steeps the bag in memory and connection to the land. The sage, which is often associated with purification, reflects spiritual responsibility and renewal alongside the theme of Discovering One’s Spiritual Destiny.

As a symbol, the medicine bag functions as a physical connection between generations, which relates to the theme of The Link Between Masculinity and Ancestry. It is passed down through the male line, thus reinforcing both tradition and responsibility. Grandpa acknowledges that Martin should only wear it at the reservation, indicating the tension between tradition and modern life.

Receiving the medicine bag is transformative for Martin. Once he accepts it as a rite of passage into Sioux manhood, it becomes a symbol of his identity. Filling it with his own sage symbolizes that he is not inheriting but contributing to his culture’s traditions.