Indians of North America; Kiowa Indians; Kiowa Indians -- Social life and customs; Bags; Clothing and dress
A variety of pouches and bags were worn by Kiowa men and women for different purposes. Bags were traditionally made from various animal hides and fur, as well as woven materials. Women usually decorated the bags with quills, paint, or beads. Small...
Bees; Bees in art; Masks; Indians of North America -- Northwest Coast of North America; Potlatch; Kwaguilth Indians; Kwaguilth Indians -- Social life and customs
Among tribes of the Northwest Coast, masks are worn during winter ceremonies (called "Potlatch"), a community event that hosts a series of songs, dances and rituals. During these ceremonies, masks are danced in ceremonial houses to...
Paleo-Indians; Paleo-Indians--Implements; Indians of North America--Implements; Indians of North America--Antiquities
Archaeologists disagree about who carved stones like this one, generally called bannerstones, as well as what these stones were used for by prehistoric Native Americans. Some believe they were made for creating rope, starting a fire or as drilling...
Paleo-Indians; Paleo-Indians -- Implements; Indians of North America -- Implements; Indians of North America -- Antiquities; Implements, utensils, etc.
As early as 11,000 years ago, the first people to inhabit the Americas were making tools to hunt for food. Tools were chipped from stone, called chert. Over time, people learned where the best sources of chert were located and traveled or traded to...
Pendants (Jewelry); Indians of North America -- Antiquities; Indians of North America -- Ohio; Hopewell culture -- Ohio; Adena culture -- Ohio; Mound-builders; Mississippian culture; Woodland indians
Banded slate objects like these were created by prehistoric Native Americans by grinding slate against other hard rocks or materials to create a desired shape and smoothness. Although archaeologists aren’t certain, many believe that these types...
Indians of North America; Indians of North America -- Clothing; Clothing and dress; Quillwork; Indians of North America -- Great Plains; Vests; Porcupines; 19th Century; Teton Indians
Buffalo hides were used to make robes, tipi covers, clothing, moccasins, and bags. Women usually prepared the hides, tanned and removed the hair, if necessary. Women spent many hours with the preparation of the hides, as well as with the...
Indians of North America; Seminole Indians; Seminole Indians -- Social life and customs; Toys; Dolls; Indian dolls
By the late 19th century, Seminole people created their own distinctive cotton patchwork clothing. This particular doll represents a Seminole woman in her patchwork outfit. The body is made from palmetto fiber. Palmetto are low-growing palms with...
Indians of North America; Indians of North America -- Northwest Coast of North America; Tlingit Indians; Tlingit Indians -- Social life and customs; Chilkat textile fabrics; Dolls; Indian dolls; Blankets; Indian blankets; 1950s
Chilkat dancing blankets were made for men and women to wear, or give, at special Northwest Coast occasions. The art of Chilkat blanket weaving originated with the Tsimshian people but later spread to the Tlingit people through trade and marriage....
Indians of North America; Indians of North America -- Northwest Coast of North America; Indian textile fabrics -- North America; Chilkat indians; Tlingit Indians; Chilkat textile fabrics; Hand weaving; Blankets; Indian dance -- North America
Chilkat dancing blankets were made for men and women to wear, or give, at special Northwest Coast occasions. With movement, the soft fringe would give the impression that the blanket was alive and dancing. Other Northwest Coast weavers held the...
Indians of North America; Indians of North America -- Games; Games
Chunkey is a game of skill that was played by many Native American groups in the United States. Two players would throw long slender poles at a smooth stone disk that was rolling on the ground. The player’s pole closest to where the stone disk...
Pomo Indians; Pomo Indians--Social life and customs; Musical instruments; Indians of North America--Music; Indians of North America--California
Clap sticks are used to keep rhythm in most Central Californian Native American dances. The stick is hit against the hand, causing the two split sides to clap together. 4-8 men clap sticks simultaneously while singing. At a certain point in the...
Miwok Indians; Miwok Indians--Social life and customs; Musical instruments; Indians of North America--Music; Indians of North America--California
Clap sticks are used to keep rhythm in most Central Californian Native American dances. The stick is hit against the hand, causing the two split sides to clap together. 4-8 men clap sticks simultaneously while singing. At a certain point in the...
Indians of North America; Pueblo Indians; Pueblo Indians -- Social life and customs; Clay figurines -- Southwest, New; Storytellers in art; Pueblo pottery
Clay figures have been present in the Pueblo culture since 400 A.D. Female figures, animals, birds and more recently the storyteller figure have been part of their tradition. The “singing mother” with several children sitting on her lap was...
Paleo-Indians; Paleo-Indians -- Implements; Arrowheads; Projectile points; Indians of North America -- Implements; Indians of North America -- Antiquities; Tools
Clovis points are among the oldest tools found in North America and have often been discovered with the remains of ice age animals, such as mastodons and mammoth. They were made and used by the Clovis people, also called Paleo-Indians, who are...
Indians of North America; Indians of North America -- Northwest Coast of North America; Kwakiutl Indians; Kwakiutl Indians -- Social life and customs; Indian dolls; Dolls; 1950s
Decorated button blankets, like the one this doll is wearing, were first created in the 1800s. Fur trappers and the Hudson's Bay Company traded plain wool blankets with the Kwakiutl peoples of the Northwest, and then each family decorated the...
Indians of North America; Indians of North America -- Folklore; Drum; Eagles; Dragonflies; Indians of North America -- Rites and ceremonies; Musical instruments
Different Native American groups have different traditions about the drum and how to play it. Painted symbols or ornaments on a drum represent various meanings. This hand drum has dragonflies and an eagle painted on the head. In Plains traditions,...
Cree Indians; Cree Indians -- Social life and customs; Woodland Indians; Indians of North America; Indians of North America -- Clothing; Gloves; Clothing and dress
During the 19th century, the reservation system and the close proximity of many tribes increased the influence of inter-tribal artistic designs and techniques. Traditional skills in hide work, beadwork, and quillwork became sources for income for...
Indians of North America; Indians of North American -- Great Plains; Blackfoot indians; Rodeos; Cuffs (Clothing); Clothing and dress; 1910s
During the late 19th century and early 20th century, the popularity of rodeo champions and western movie stars transformed working cowboy clothing into western fashion. Many Native Americans began to adapt European style of dress to their own...
Inukshuks -- Canada; Indians of North America; Inuit; Cairns
Figures like this one, but much larger, can be seen in remote areas of Canada. There, the landscape is barren, without many landmarks to help people find their way. Years ago, people built their own landmarks out of stones, carefully chosen and...
Indians of North America; Indians of North America -- Northwest Coast of North America; Haida indians; Haida Indians -- Rites and ceremonies; Totem poles; Queen Charlotte Islands (B.C.); British Columbia; 1900s
For hundreds of years the Haida people have inhabited the Queen Charlotte Islands in British Columbia, Canada. Many Northwest Coast cultures carve totem poles but the Haida are widely regarded as the best carvers and are considered the finest totem...
