A palisman is a sort of magical totem, usually, atop a staff, that acts as a familiar. There can be many different types of palisman stemming from owls to otters to who knows what else. They are usually carved from a special, nearly extinct, tree.
Just as we should abhor racism that manifests itself by preferring to buy things from people of our own race, we should abhor placism that manifests itself by preferring to buy things from people who live nearer to us.