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-force of 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 for which they might be
utilized: goose flight feathers to fledge an
arrow because of the long flights of the geese;
Eagle feathers for honor or to connect the
user 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 are planted 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 many Pueblo and
Navajo designs.
Circular Feather Arrangements are found
on pottery, in masks, prayer fans, dance
costumes and on 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 "first helper", in creation/emergence stories.
Deer, Hunting prey animal, sacrifice and also
mentioned 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 your eyes 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
and renewal. Because they change, they are
considered very powerful.
Turtle, water animal, strength, female power
fetish animal, 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 is often 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 massproduced ad nauseum by anyone who wanted to
sell something to the tourists.
Birds...
Water Bird, symbol of renewal of life, wet
seasons, rivers distant travel, 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 by Commanche
Quannah Parker around 1910.
Hummingbirds (paired), also sometimes
waterbirds, or quail, symbolized in mated
pairs as symbol of devotion, permanence and
eternity, 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 than their small size
would indicate.
Parrot, connected with both the sun and with
the coming of the rains. Parrots were
considered carriers of these specific prayers
and would confer blessings. Kept for their
feathers and color, by many 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 pottery
and 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 is respected 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 often confused 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
male organ, 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 in some jewelry. He is the
storm bringer, the changer of seasons.
Connected with lightning, thunderstorms
and violent, sudden change.
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 both Catholic conversion
and respect for older traditions.
Cricket, the singer, is connected with Springtime,
fertility and water and is often one of the ways
Kokopelli, the Seed Bringer is depicted
Botanicals...
Plants, primary foodsources, tools, materials
for basket making, healing provide many
images. 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 Navajo healing sandpainting,
and each plant corresponds here to a compass
direction as well. One unusual symbol, the
open flower at the end of the "Squash
blossoms" 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 prosperity the Spanish
introduced. As squash blossoms were already
symbols of plenty, the new image took hold
easily. 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 the cyclic 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 powerful medicine.
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 the presence of the spirit.
Badgers are revered as healing animals and as
tenacious hunters. Their tracks may signify
health and strength. Bear Paws/Tracks are
also symbols of authority and leadership.
Wolf Tracks, or any other predators tracks
usually signify a direction rather than simply
the spirits presence. 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, is considered 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 it as 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. Similar styles
are seen throughout the Southwestern Indian
cultures. May or 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 a State, 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 crown carried 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 our
gallery's front door
Life and Choice, depicted in this common
symbol, "the-man-in-the-maze" was originally
created as an illustration of an emergence
story 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
point of harmony with all things, no matter
how hard or long the road taken. This symbol
is especially utilized by Hopi silversmiths as a
way to showcase the quality of their
technique.
Spirits...
Navajo Yeii Spirit, is a depiction of a irit
considered by the Navajo to be a gobetween between man and the creator.
Yeiis control natural 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 spirit or "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
he needs 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 watersprinkler(a reference to his male
anatomy), is a common fertility symbol
throughout the Southwest. His image is
found in petroglyph art particularly in the
fourcorners area and along the gorges of
the San Juan River in Northern New
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 concept of the
significance of protecting seeds. Usually
depicted as old, bent under his heavy load,
he visits various communitys,
impregnating the young women drawn to
the tones of his flute playing. He is also
related to the cricket, or locust, whose
natural music is connected with specific
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 organs although this practicve
has been curtailed in recent years. Today,
he is considered the ambassaor of the
Southwest, a much less colorful job, by
tourists and visitors.
The Twins, depicted in almost every
emergence/creation story among the
Southwestern 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 from other 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
sand painting
The Hand, represents the presence of
man, his work, his acheivements, his
legacy. It also represents the direction of
the creative spirit through a man, as a
vessel for the Creators power.
Patterns....
Weaving Pattern, (Klagetoh Community
Style) Navajo weavers create beautiful,
bold patterns which are at least partially
derived from the physical limitations of the
vertical loom. These patterns are often
found in other arts, such as jewelry or
pottery. They often combine many
symbols of the natural world.
Weaving Pattern, (Storm Style), Navajo.
Many of the Navajo patterns are followed
closely by weaving 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 and
silversmiths to establish boundaries and as
designs in their own right. The Hopi
silversmiths, especially, have made great
use of these foreground/background
patterns in their overly jewelry. Many of
the recurring spirals and 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 the artist. This one contains
elements of water, birds, spirals and
prayers. Complex designs like this, in
repetition are showcases for the best Hopi
silversmithing.