THE PRODUCTS...

Head-dress

Known as the Sioux Bonnet it has been copied on numerous occasions by other tribes. Head-dress's have not always been war bonnets... there have been forms of headdress made as dress bonnets, chief bonnets and bonnets for chief no's 2,3,4 etc.

Beadwork

The beadwork on the bonnets and buck skins tends to represent things such as mountains and tee-pee's. Beads had prayers said upon them as they were sewn onto the garments.

Feathers

Feathers were used as the universal Native American symbol for decoration and personal expression, worship, rituals and brave deeds.

Feathers that stood upright drew the sky's energy and powers. Feathers that hung tips down drew earthly powers and spirit powers.

Talking feathers were used for Braves etc. who wished to speak their thoughts in a similar way to how talking sticks were used.

Coup feathers were given in recognition of acts of bravery in battle.

Medicine Wheel

The medicine wheel is a symbol of universal spirit, balance and cosmic harmony.

The medicine wheel is also the symbol of brotherhood, balance and life. The centre of a cross symbolises the 4 winds, 4 seasons, 4 directions and 4 corners of the earth. The corners are the 4 colours of man - red, yellow, black and white.

End of Trail Shield

The design on a shield was believed to hold the power that kept its owner safe.

Rattles

Rattles were used by Medicine Men to call up their guardian spirits. Rattles come in all shapes and sizes.

Talking Sticks

Talking sticks are passed around what is called a "talking circle", each warrior would then describe his visions and dreams.

Dreamcatchers

The night air is filled with good and bad dreams. Bad dreams are trapped within the net and are said to perish in the morning light. Only good dreams pass through the centre of the dream catcher.

Medicine Bag

The medicine bag is a mystery bag with great psychic powers. Usually filled with such items as: ashes, bark, roots, twigs, herbs etc. The bag is used in healing ceremonies.

Peace Pipes

The pipe was used in ceremonies and for pleasure.

Pipe Bag

Pipe's (except the elbo pipe) were used only by men. The bag itself was the most decorated item a warrior owned because it protected his greatest passion... that's right... his greatest passion was his pipe!

War Clubs (or Tomahawks)

The latter-day Native Indian would call it a "war club", and they are usually made from stone or wood with size and weight to suit the warrior. Modern day man refer to them as "tomahawks" - and are now made from iron or steel by blacksmiths and then traded back to the Indians for furs and skins.

Ownership Staff's

Ownership Staff's were mainly used for decoration and placed outside the tee-pee to help brighten up the camp site. They would also identify which family lives within the tee-pee. These were said to be found between 6ft and 10ft in length. Each boy of a family would have a small selection of his own to decorate for himself.

War Shields

The Native Indian's shield was his medicine and he believed that this gave him protection as it was filled with wonderful powers and designed to terrify his enemies. Paintings and object on the shields had meaningful qualities only the warrior new about. Few shield's are found these days outside of museums, collections etc... if any are found - they are now priceless.

Lances

Lances are mainly made from wooden poles, stones and chipped flint.

Lances were used before the Indians owned guns. The lance was mainly used for hunting and for close quarter fighting. When the white man introduced the gun the lance simply became a highly decorative item and was used in ceremonial events.

Spirit Sticks

Nearly all Native American Indians believe the spirit stick possesses supernatural powers, and use the sticks to communicate with the gods and spirits. The sticks were used in ceremonies to summon the guardian spirits.

Jewellery

The Native American Indian took great pride in appearance. Their jewellery was just as important as their clothes, tee-pees, horses etc. Their jewellery was mainly made from wood, bone, beads, metals and air pipes - all bound and threaded together with fine strips of hide.

Examples of typical North American Indian Jewellery:

• Wrist bands
• Chokers
• Ankle Bands
• Neck Bands
• Breast Plates
• Hair Ties
• Necklaces
• Pendants

Buckskin Clothes - shirts, dresses, capes, moccasin's etc.

Buckskin is commonly associated with early pioneers, woodsmen and the Indian. Buckskin is tanned deer skin. After working the tanned hide, rubbing and softening to make it pliable, the hide would be ready for turning into a shirt or dress etc.

The Scalp Shirt would be distinguishable by strands of decorative hair on the buckskin material.

Ghost Shirts

Ghost shirts are mainly associated with the Sioux nation. A medicine man named Yellow Bird told Sitting Bull and the great Sioux "the ghost shirts are medicine, they will offer great protection against white mans bullets". Sitting Bull, chief of the Sioux, lead the great ghost dances and hence the ghost shirt became popular among the tribes of the planes Indian.

THE SYMBOLS...

Eagle

The eagle is the Native American symbol of Perception.

Bear

The bear is a sacred power animal and represents protection.

Buffalo

The buffalo represents Provision and Abundance.

Wolf

The wolf represents a great hunter with remarkable patience and great survival skills.

Some PRODUCTS with SYMBOLS...

Buffalo Mandella's

The buffalo mandella represents the shield of good luck. It holds the power of protection, prosperity, good health and happiness.

Buffalo Web Shield

This shield means - surrounding protection of the buffalo with its powers, within the protection of the web with dreams.

The Buffalo Web

A highly decorative web representing great powers... these were normally scattered around a tee-pee.

 

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

Native American Indians have ten commandments which they live by...