american indian symbols dictionary

8/2/2019 American Indian Symbols Dictionary

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American Indian Symbols

Dictionary...

Arrows...

Arrows There are many different depictions of arrows.

They usually connote direction, force, movement, power

and direction of travel, also, as seen in the bear and deer

images below, the pathway of the breath, the life-forceof the animal spirit, called the "heartline"

Feathers...

Feathers, depicted in many, many ways, are

symbols of prayers, marks of honor or sources of

ideas. They represent the Creative Force, and are

taken from birds connected with the attribute forwhich they might be utilized: goose flight feathers

to fledge an arrow because of the long flights of thegeese; Eagle feathers for honor or to connect theuser with the Creator, Turkey feathers to decorate a

kachina mask. As design elements, they mau

appear plain, banded, barred, or decorated.

Pahos or Prayer Sticks, are carefully notched and

painted cottonwood or cedar sticks with specific

feathers attached to catch the wind. They areplanted in the ground at religious sites, and at

springs to carry specific prayers to the Creator or to

the Kachinas. Their forms are found in manyPueblo and Navajo designs.



Circular Feather Arrangements are found on

pottery, in masks, prayer fans, dance costumes andon Plains "war bonnets" They are also used in

decoration on buffalo hide "counts", or story

depictions in paint recounting war honors, times of

historic contact and other important periods of time. In a circular arrangement, they are related to

the sun, and therefore, to the Creator.

Animals...

Frog, water animal, connotes renewal, Spring and

fertility

Bear, Directional Protector (West), physical strength,

leaderrship, also frequently mentioned as "firsthelper", in creation/emergence stories.

Deer, Hunting prey animal, sacrifice and alsomentioned as "first helper" in some emergence

stories, family protection and speed.

Horned Lizard, represents lizards. Also significant

in some Navajo stories connoting perseverance and

keeping ancient secrets. Some say "they'll steal youreyes if you look at them too much!" They also are

found in Coyote stories as ones who annoy Coyote.

Tadpole, immature frogs also connote fertility andrenewal. Because they change, they are considered

very powerful.



Turtle, water animal, strength, female power fetishanimal, fertility, long life, perseverance. Considered

to be able to defy death, and is also an annoyance to

Coyote.

Coyote, the trickster is also a powerful hunting prey

god and fetish. keen ability to find things, and isoften considered an omen that something unpleasant

might happen. This whimsical, new style, is an

outgrowth of the popularity of the Santa Fe style,during the early 1990's. This howling style with

bandana is a copy of a cottonwood folk-sculpture first

created by Santa Fe artist Ricardo Rodriguez and later

mass-produced ad nauseum by anyone who wanted tosell something to the tourists.

Birds...

Water Bird, symbol of renewal of life, wet seasons, rivers distanttravel, long vision, wisdom. often inaccurately called

"thunderbird", which is not a Southwestern tradition, but rather one

of the plains people. In that context, connected with lightning,thunder and visions. Those who dream of the thunderbeings must

become Heyokas -- those who live out their dreams backwards

(Lakota tradition) The image has also been modified and used as

the symbol of the Native American Church, founded byCommanche Quannah Parker around 1910.

Hummingbirds (paired), also sometimes waterbirds, or quail,

symbolized in mated pairs as symbol of devotion, permanence andeternity, life cycles. These are often modified in many, very simple

forms. Hummingbirds are particularly known to be ferocious

fighters and defenders of their territory -- many times stroger thantheir small size would indicate.

Parrot, connected with both the sun and with the coming of the

rains. Parrots were considered carriers of these specific prayersand would confer blessings. Kept for their feathers and color, bymany Pueblo people (secured through trade with people to the far

South), and also considered a very expensive posssesion thereby

denoting prosperity.



Crane, also connected with water and the end of summer, images

of migratory fowl like Sandhill Cranes are common in potteryand petroglyphs from the Mimbre culture in Southwestern New

Mexico.

Turkey, and important food source, also is mentioned in several

Tewa Pueblo stories. Its feathers have many ritual uses.

Owl, among the Zuni and Keres Pueblo people, the owl isrespected as the guise of departed, wise elders and leaders'

spirits. A silent hunter, the owl is connected with darkness and

night as well as keen eyes and skillful hunting. Among most other

cultures, the owl is considered a bad omen, portending death.

Eagle, the master of the sky, is considered a carrier of prayers.Many Indian Nations honor this bird as possessing courage,

wisdom, and a special connection to the creator. This is oftenconfused with the "thunderbird" image concept. Eagle is also a

Directional Protector(the Sky) spirit, and an image associated with

spirits and visions

Snakes...

Snake, found in many healing and fertility

rituals, is connected with lightning, the maleorgan, speed, and being able to move

undetected. He is usually depicted with his

tongue extended. He is also considered a hunter,

and in some emergence stories is "first helper",although his nature is usually more ominous.

Avanyu, the feathered skysnake. Frequently

found in Tewa, Keres and Zuni pottery and insome jewelry. He is the storm bringer, the

changer of seasons. Connected with lightning,

thunderstorms and violent, sudden change.

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Insects...

Dragonfly, connected with water and Springtime,

fertility, renewal; considered a messenger.

Dragonfly, this is an abstract of the dragonfly symbol,

which has been used as a talisman, particularly among

the Southern Pueblos, notably at Isleta where it became a

double armed cross. This was worn as a symbol of bothCatholic conversion and respect for older traditions.

Cricket, the singer, is connected with Springtime,

fertility and water and is often one of the waysKokopelli, the Seed Bringer is depicted

Botanicals...

Plants, primary foodsources, tools, materials for

basket making, healing provide manyimages. Flowers are usually connected with the

sun. Common ones such as corn, symbol of life,squash, beans, beansprouts and seeds are very often

found in pottery. The image here, is from a Navajohealing sandpainting, and each plant corresponds

here to a compass direction as well. One unusual

symbol, the open flower at the end of the "Squashblossoms" on Navajo necklaces, were not originally

from squash at all. They were symbolic of the

pomengranate, brought in by wealthy Spanish

colonial settlers, and symbols of the new prosperitythe Spanish introduced. As squash blossoms were

already symbols of plenty, the new image took holdeasily. Other plant images include trees, weeds(such as Devils Claw or Jimson Weed) and seed

shapes.



Whirling Logs, an ancient symbol from many

cultures, the North American symbol depicted thecyclic motion of life, seasons and the four

winds. Taken from the image of a tree in a

whirlwind, this image is found in Navajop sand

paintings frequently. It is considered a powerfulmedicine.

Animal Tracks...

Badger or Bear Paws, (badger seen here -- longer

claws) usually considered a way of summoning the

power of the animal spirit, or as an indication of thepresence of the spirit. Badgers are revered as

healing animals and as tenacious hunters. Theirtracks may signify health and strength. Bear

Paws/Tracks are also symbols of authority andleadership.

Wolf Tracks, or any other predators tracks usually

signify a direction rather than simply the spiritspresence. These also are a clan short hand

indication of kinship -- "wolf clan", for

example. Also symbols of authority and leadership.

Deer Tracks, are symbols of prosperity, safety,

shelter, and also of the proximity to prey. Also

used as a directional indicator, and as a clan

symbol.

Natural Forces and Objects...

Clouds, Rain and Lightning, in addition to representing

themselves, are also important symbols change, renewal and

fertiltiy. Closely related is snow, which is considered even more of a blessing than rain.

The Morning Star, brightest star on the horizon at dawn, isconsidered an important spirit and is honored as a kachina among

most Pueblos. The Plains and Great Basin people honor it as a sign

of courage and purity of spirit. The Ghost Dance Religion used itas a symbol of the coming renewal of tradition and resurrection of



the heroes of the past. Most other spirits are represented as stars

under some circumstances.

The Sun, giver of life, warmth, growth, all that is good. This is a

style of showing the sun as the face of a kachina mask. Similarstyles are seen throughout the Southwestern Indian cultures. Mayor may not also show "rays" signifying the four directions

The Zia, named for Zia Pueblo, who first used it, this is another

symbol of the sun, and also of the four directions and the circle of

life on earth. It also may be connected with the place of

emergence, the sipapu, in stories. When New Mexico became aState, in 1912, the Zia was adopted as the symbol for the State

Flag. It appears as the sun in red, to honor the Indian Nations, on a

yellow field (yellow was the royal color of the Spanish crowncarried by the conquistador Coronado in 1540, the date of his

entrance into New Mexico, at Zuni and the first recorded European

contact with North American Indian people) and flys outside ourgallery's front door

Life and Choice, depicted in this common symbol, "the-man-in-

the-maze" was originally created as an illustration of an emergencestory by the Tohono o'odham or Papago Indians of the Central

Valley in Arizona. TRhe little man is named "U'ki'ut'l" in their

language. It has been adopted by other people because it is

significant of life's cycles and eternal motion and also of the

choices we are confronted with. The right choices lead us to a pointof harmony with all things, no matter how hard or long the road

taken. This symbol is especially utilized by Hopi silversmiths as away to showcase the quality of their technique.

Spirits...







Navajo Yeii Spirit, is a depiction of a irit

considered by the Navajo to be a go-between

between man and the creator. Yeiis controlnatural forces in and on the earth, such as day

and night, rain, wind, sun, etc. A very special

kind of yeii is the Yei'bi'chai, grandparent spiritor "talking God" who can speak with man,

telling him how to live in harmony with all

living things by following a few rules of

behavior and using only the basic things heneeds to survive. A symbol of the harmony

acheived is the "Rainbow Man", a yeii

controlling the rainbow, who gives beauty to

those in harmony.

Kokopelli, the seed bringer and water-

sprinkler(a reference to his male anatomy), is acommon fertility symbol throughout theSouthwest. His image is found in petroglyph

art particularly in the fourcorners area and along

the gorges of the San Juan River in NorthernNew Mexico and Colorado. He is a personage

who is honored as a kachina by most Pueblo

cultures. He is associated with fertility, the

male principal and physiology, and the conceptof the significance of protecting seeds. Usually

depicted as old, bent under his heavy load, he

visits various communitys, impregnating theyoung women drawn to the tones of his flute

playing. He is also related to the cricket, or

locust, whose natural music is connected withspecific hunidity and seasonal

temperatures. There are many, very ribald

stories of his various exploits. When carved as

a kachina doll, he usually has a staff, not a flute,but is also carved hunchbacked. Before the

missionaries came to the Hopi mesas in the

1930's, his kachina disguise and tihu doll also

featured exaggerated male sexual organsalthough this practicve has been curtailed in

recent years. Today, he is considered the

ambassaor of the Southwest, a much lesscolorful job, by tourists and visitors.



The Twins, depicted in almost every

emergence/creation story among theSouthwestern Indian people. The twins are

usually depicted as boys or small men who

heroically overcam great odds to protect the

people from monsters, drought, attack fromother beings, animals, or many other

problems. They illustrate the concept of duality: in life, in the natural world, everything

exists in balance -- male/female, large/small,

light/dark, good/evil. Here they are depicted as

Father Sky/Mother Earth, from a Navajo sandpainting

The Hand, represents the presence of man, his

work, his acheivements, his legacy. It also

represents the direction of the creative spiritthrough a man, as a vessel for the Creators

power.

Patterns....

Weaving Pattern, (Klagetoh Community Style)

Navajo weavers create beautiful, bold patternswhich are at least partially derived from the

physical limitations of the vertical loom. Thesepatterns are often found in other arts, such as

jewelry or pottery. They often combine manysymbols of the natural world.

Weaving Pattern, (Storm Style), Navajo. Many

of the Navajo patterns are followed closely byweaving families, while other designs are

created fresh each time. Some designs are also

similar to designs seen in Plains Beadwork and

painting.

Border Patterns are used by weavers andsilversmiths to establish boundaries and as

designs in their own right. The Hopisilversmiths, especially, have made great use of

these foreground/background patterns in their

overly jewelry. Many of the recurring spiralsand whorls are connected with beansprouts, life



springing out, cylces of life, and eternal

renewal. We call this one "Greek key".

Border Pattern, Spirals, whirlwinds, renewal,water

Border Pattern, kiva steps, or Clouds, direction

and change

Border Pattern, Wedding Basket,Man/Woman, Cloud Points, Night/Day and

Mountains/Sky

Border Pattern, Waves, spirals, water and

cycles, life and renewal

Border Pattern, composite. Many of these are

combinations of many symbols, joined by theartist. This one contains elements of water,

birds, spirals and prayers. Complex designs likethis, in repetition are showcases for the best

Hopi silversmithing.

Sequoyah's Cherokee Syllabary....

american indian symbols dictionary

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