american indian symbols dictionary
TRANSCRIPT
8/2/2019 American Indian Symbols Dictionary
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/american-indian-symbols-dictionary 1/11
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.
8/2/2019 American Indian Symbols Dictionary
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/american-indian-symbols-dictionary 2/11
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.
8/2/2019 American Indian Symbols Dictionary
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/american-indian-symbols-dictionary 3/11
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.
8/2/2019 American Indian Symbols Dictionary
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/american-indian-symbols-dictionary 4/11
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.
8/2/2019 American Indian Symbols Dictionary
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/american-indian-symbols-dictionary 5/11
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.
8/2/2019 American Indian Symbols Dictionary
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/american-indian-symbols-dictionary 6/11
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
8/2/2019 American Indian Symbols Dictionary
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/american-indian-symbols-dictionary 7/11
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...
8/2/2019 American Indian Symbols Dictionary
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/american-indian-symbols-dictionary 8/11
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.
8/2/2019 American Indian Symbols Dictionary
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/american-indian-symbols-dictionary 9/11
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
8/2/2019 American Indian Symbols Dictionary
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/american-indian-symbols-dictionary 10/11
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....
8/2/2019 American Indian Symbols Dictionary
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/american-indian-symbols-dictionary 11/11