American Indian Symbols
Dictionary
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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
mass-produced 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 go-between
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.