Indians of North America; Indians of North American -- Clothing; Indians of North America--Great Plains; Indians of North America--Social life and customs; Headgear; Feathers; Indian dance--North America
Many Plains people are known for their elaborate headdresses. Many traditional headdresses, like this one, are decorated with Golden Eagle feathers, beadwork, wool cloth, and leather and tell of a warrior’s achievements in battle. Individual...
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...
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...
Indians of North America; Indians of North America -- Southwest, New; Hopi Indians; Hopi Indians -- Religion; Hopi Indians -- Social life and customs; Kachinas; Bull-roarer
When spun rapidly through the air in circles, bullroarers make a low buzzing sound that Hopi peoples associate with wind, thunder and rain. They are used during special ceremonies, such as Kachina dances, to summon rain as well as to scare off evil...
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 -- Southwest, New; Navajo indians; Navajo art; Handicraft -- Southwest, New; Motorcycles; Harley-Davidson Incorporated; Wood-carving
This sculpture was made by the self taught Navajo artist, Delbert Buck. Highly observant, he often depicts his Navajo neighbors doing everyday activities, like riding a bike. Some sculptures characterize his family members, like his grandmother...
Teton Indians; Teton Indians -- Social life and customs; Indians of North America -- Great Plains; Indians of North America; Indians of North America -- Clothing; Bags; Clothing and dress
Native American bags were often decorated with paint, beadwork, or quillwork with specific tribal designs. These designs sometimes revealed the specific use of the bag, such as a medicine bag or tobacco bag. The craftsperson, usually a woman, made...
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...
Indians of North America; Woodland Indians; Mohawk Indians; Onondaga Indians; Indians of North America -- Clothing; Clothing and dress; Headgear
Mohawk artist Towanna Miller created this contemporary headdress called a gustowah. The number and position of the feathers or the position of the hat can signify what clan the wearer belongs to or what position he holds in his culture. This...
Indians of North America; Indians of North America -- Clothing; Clothing and dress; Bags; Indians of North America -- Great Plains; Indians of North America -- Great Plains -- Social life and customs
Native American bags were often decorated with paint, beadwork, or quillwork with specific tribal designs. These designs sometimes revealed the specific use of the bag, such as a medicine bag or tobacco bag. This particular bag may have been...
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; Osage Indians; Catlinite; Indians of North America -- Tobacco use; Tobacco pipes; Calumets
Native American people used the smoking pipe for many ceremonial and sacred reasons. Pipes were made out of many different materials such as shale, slate, limestone, and catlinite. Catlinite was a soft red stone found in the southwestern Minnesota...
Indians of North America; Indians of North America -- Clothing; Clothing and dress; Oglala Indians; Oglala Indians -- Social life and customs; Footwear; Moccasins; Shoes
Moccasins are one type of traditional Native American footwear. Different types of moccasins were made for different climates and uses. Soft-sole moccasins were typically worn in Woodlands regions of the eastern United States where the ground was...
Indians of North America; Salish Indians; Salish Indians -- Social life and customs; Implements, utensils, etc.; Indians of North America -- Implements
Salish women used large baskets or other containers to carry wood, crops, or water. A heavy load was made lighter by using a tumpline to distribute the weight. The tumpline would be placed around the container and then across the forehead of the...
Indians of North America; Indians of North America -- Clothing; Kiowa indians; Kiowa indians -- Clothing; Footwear; Moccasins; Clothing and dress
Moccasins are one type of traditional Native American footwear. Different types of moccasins were made for different climates and uses. Soft-sole moccasins were typically worn in Woodlands regions of the eastern United States where the ground was...
Indians of North America; Indians of North America -- Great Lakes Region (North America); Beads; Iroquois Indians; Iroquois Indians -- Clothing; Handbags; Beadwork; Indian beadwork; Fashion -- History -- 19th century; Clothing and dress
The shape and style of this decorative bag reflect the tastes of Euro-American women during the Victorian Era. Iroquois people beaded bags with flares, flaps, and reverse contours for this tourist trade, mostly around the Niagara Falls, New York...
Indians of North America; Indians of North America -- Social life and customs; Kiowa Indians; Cradleboards
Native American mothers, aunts, and grandmothers demonstrated their love and hope for infants by creating elaborately decorated cradle covers or cradleboards. They used beads, paint, wood, or tacks to make special carriers for their infants....
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...
Eskimos; Eskimos -- Alaska; Eskimos -- Alaska -- Social life and customs; Balls (Sporting goods); Indians of North America; Indians of North America -- Sports
Traditionally, games of strength and endurance were played by the Alaskan Eskimo or Inuit and they did not require objects. Early contact with explorers introduced ball games that were sometimes adapted to fit the Alaskan Eskimo environment. This...
Bags; Handbag; Beadwork; Tobacco; Tobacco pipes; Smoking Paraphernalia; Indians of North America; 19th Century; Indians of North America -- Social life and customs; Indians of North America -- Tobacco use; Cheyenne indians; Cheyenne indians --...
Leather bags like this one, called pipe or tobacco bags, were used to carry pipe stems, pipe bowls and tobacco. This bag is decorated with both quillwork and glass beads. Before beads were acquired through trade with Europeans, many Native American...
