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Arts
and Crafts
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Applehead
Dolls
Dolls are one of the oldest forms of entertainment
in the world.
http://198.209.8.166/sheproom/periodicals/bittersweet/wi74f.htm
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A
History of Navajo Weaving
It has often been said "the land was
good for nothing else so we gave it to the Indians". Nothing could
be further from the truth. The original Navajo, the T'aa dine' chose
this very area some 6 to 7 centuries age. This nomadic people arrived
and apparently lived in harmony with the existing Anasazi until the
latters' disapearence or assimilation.
http://www.americana.net/weaving.html
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Carving
at Skidegate
In the following sections you will find a story
told with photos of a totem pole being carved at Skidegate, Haida
Gwaii
http://www.spruceroots.org/PoleSite/Haida.html
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Cradleboards
The
cradleboard provided a secure and safe environment for the small baby.
The baby was kept in the cradleboard at all times. This helped to
keep the child's backbone and legs straight, further strengthen the
neck muscles, and provide an opportunity for the infant to be visually
and emotionally stimulated by his environment and family.
http://www.unr.edu/nnap/NT/f-12.htm
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Dot
So La Lee
On the curve of land which comprises
the northern bank of Tahoe's Truckee River outlet, on a wooden floor
with materials of her labor spread at the perimeters of her voluminous
skirts, and Indian woman often used to sit with her front door open
to catch the light necessary for the fineness of her work.
http://www.tahoecountry.com/oldtimetahoe/dotsolalee.html
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Dreamcatchers
The Native American legend of the dream catcher says that a dream
catcher will help a sleeper have only pleasant dreams. The dream catcher
captures the spirit of all bad or unpleasant dreams and holds them
through the night. Allowing the good dreams to pass through the webbing.
It is said that to hasten dreams, you put feathers on them for the
good dreams to slide down to the sleeper.
http://members.aol.com/whitecld/dreams.html
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Inuit
Cultural Perspectives
Welcome to the Inuit art and traditional culture
Web Page! This site links the graphic work of some of the famous artists
from the community of Cape Dorset with the memories, myths and legends
of elders from the community of Igloolik.
http://collections.ic.gc.ca/cape_dorset/index1.html
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Lakota Tipi
Camp & Cultural Tour
We, at Lakota Tipi Camp & Cultural Tour
would be honored to have you experience our land, culture, dance,
music, art, and people during your visit. We know your stay will be
a most positive experience and will be remembered for years to come.
http:www.lakotatipicamp.com
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Making
Natural Dyes From Plants
Did you know that a great source for natural
dyes can be found right in your own back yard! Roots, nuts and flowers
are just a few common natural ways to get many colours. Yellow, orange,
blue, red, green, brown and grey are available. Go ahead, experiment!
http://www.pioneerthinking.com/naturaldyes.html
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Navajo
Rugs: Styles on the Reservations
Rug designs sometimes have names (like
the Storm pattern) and perhaps have inner meanings for the weavers.
But the designs themselves are not symbolic, they have no significance.
http://www.kstrom.net/isk/maps/rugmap.html
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Native
American Geometry
Native American Geometry explores designs from various Native American
nations to illustrate the physical geometry of the simple circle.
http://www.earthmeasure.com
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Native
American Quilting Traditions
Your job in particular, as the Native American specialist, is to research
Native American quilts. You will be finding your way to the sites
listed below and reading about the origin of quilting for this culture
well as about the traditions of quilting.
http://www.richmond.edu/~ed344/webquests/quilts/nativeamerican.html
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Native
American Quilts
Native Americans represent several diverse cultures from different
regions and with varied histories. Each culture is rich in symbolism
that is represented in artwork ranging from woven Navajo rugs to intricate
beading on leather.
http://www.womenfolk.com/historyofquilts/nativeam.htm
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Pine
Needle Baskets
http://www.nativetech.org/coil/coiinstr.html
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Porcupine
Quillwork
Porcupine quillwork is one of the earliest
forms of decoration used by the North American Indians. Its use was
widespread...from the Woodlands peoples of the Northeast, the Plains
peoples of the Midwest, and the Plateau peoples of the Northwest.
http://www.matoska.com/quilwork.htm
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Progression
of Basket Weaving in the Southwest
Basket weaving is a form of artwork that is common among the Native
Americans in the Southwestern United States. At the same time, it
may possibly be the oldest textile art known to mankind.
http://www.u.arizona.edu/ic/mcbride/ws200/weavwome.htm
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Teachers
First Crafts
Children in the American colonies frequently
learned how to make toys and other crafts from the Native American
children who lived nearby. The activities below illustrate some of
the crafts, techniques, and materials which Native and Colonial children
might have used for their toys and crafts.
http://www.teachersfirst.com/summer/nativecrafts.htm
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Totem
Poles, Present at the Creation
Since they were first noticed by European explorers
in the 1700s, totem poles may have been misunderstood as frightening
statues worshipped as gods. But some say early totem poles were actually
billboards for powerful native families, announcing the privileges
they enjoyed. NPR's Robert Smith traces the history of totem poles
for the Present at the Creation series.
http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/patc/totempoles/index.html
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Quillwork
Porcupine
Quillwork & Hair
http://www.nativetech.org/quill/
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Story
Robes
Thousands of years ago, people recorded
their history and beliefs on stone outcrops which dot the plains.
http://pages.prodigy.net/jzeller/storyrobe/srobe.htm
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Surrounded
By Beauty - Arts of Native America
There is no equivalent in the many Native American
languages for the word art. Yet the objects here suggest that Native
Americans are a highly spiritual people who create objects of extraordinary
beauty. In Native American thought there is also no distinction between
what is beautiful or functional, and what is sacred or secular. Design
goes far beyond concerns of function, and beauty is much more than
simple appearances.
http://www.artsmia.org/surrounded-by-beauty/
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Clothing
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Amauti
The amauti (woman's parka) has a deep hood at
the back in which babies and children are placed. In the film, this
beautiful amauti was a gift to Atuat, Atanarjuat's first wife, during
their emotional reunion after his return to Igloolik following a period
of exile and recovery at the camp of the shaman Qulitalik. This amauti
is made of caribou skin and features decorative fringes and an intricate
overlay design on the front.
http://atanarjuat.com/art_direction/costumes/amauti/
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Annuraaq:
clothing of Arctic North America
The English word anorak comes from annuraaq,
meaning "a piece of clothing" in the language of the Inuit of the
Canadian Arctic. Like other forms of Inuit technology, Inuit clothing
fascinates by its apparently simple design and great effectiveness.
For instance, traditional Inuit clothing is designed to capture air
warmed by the body. In winter, when hunting or traveling, two layers
of clothing are worn. Warm air is thus trapped between the two layers
of clothing and the body, providing highly effective insulation against
the cold.
http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/compass/ixbin/goto?id=ENC7425&tour=int
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Beauty,
Honor and Tradition: The Legacy of the Plains Indian Shirts
Few images of Native Americans are as iconic
as that of a historic Plains Indian man wearing a fringed shirt, riding
across the prairie on his trusty horse. This stereotypical image,
etched into the minds of people of this country and Europe, and has
been the object of many romanticized novels and television. Fortunately
that image is only one insignificant interpretation of the role of
Plains Indians Shirts; in reality, they act as a symbol of status,
honor, and tradition for Plains Indian culture.
http://www.artsmia.org/beauty-honor-tradition/about-exhibition.html
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Copper
and Caribou Inuit Clothing Traditions
When Inuit lived exclusively on the land, caribou
and seal were the main sources of clothing material. The insulating
properties of caribou fur made it ideal for protection from the harsh
winters. Sealskin was preferred for footwear because of its durability
and water-resistance. To conserve heat, skin garments were designed
so that adjacent pieces of clothing overlapped. Further insulation
was provided by wearing two layers.
http://www.civilization.ca/aborig/threads/thred02e.html
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