Native American tribes across North America have a long and diverse history of using colors symbolically in their art, traditions, clothing, and more. Color can hold deep cultural, spiritual, and symbolic meaning for tribes. While there is immense diversity between tribes, there are some overarching themes and commonalities when it comes to color symbolism and meaning.
Major Color Associations
Here are some of the most prominent color associations found across many Native American tribes:
Red – Associated with war, strength, energy, blood, and life. Also connected to leadership, courage, and bravery. Often present on blankets, shirts, leggings, and other regalia.
Black – Represents victory, triumph, and success over enemies or difficult situations. Also associated with power and authority. Black paint on faces and bodies has been common in war preparation rituals.
White – Signifies peace, harmony, spirituality, cleansing, wisdom, and purity. White shells and stones have been used extensively in jewelry and ceremonies. White clay was sometimes used on faces and bodies in rituals.
Blue – Connected to the sky, heavens, and celestial. Represents wisdom, intuition, visions, dreams, and calm. Blue corn is sacred to Hopi and Keres tribes.
Yellow – Associated with the sun, light, warmth, and the east direction. Represents enlightenment, happiness, flourishing. pollen is seen as sacred.
Green – Represents nature, fertility, life, growth, harmony, and the changing of seasons. Jade and turquoise stones have been prized by tribes for thousands of years.
Regional & Tribal Color Symbolism
Beyond those widespread associations, color symbolism can vary greatly between specific tribes and regions of North America. Here are some examples:
Southwest Tribes
– Navajo – Utilize rainbow colors in rugs and textiles to represent the four sacred mountains and four corners of their homeland. Red represents the east, blue the south, yellow the west, and white the north.
– Hopi – Prized cottonwood trees for their green inner bark used in kachina doll carving. Value lush green corn as a sacred crop. Use blue and green beads in jewelry.
– Zuni – Connect turquoise with water and the sea, as their homeland lies near the Pacific Ocean. Incorporate extensive turquoise beads, mosaic inlays, and details into jewelry.
Plains Tribes
– Lakota – Red Hawk and His Brothers fable features colors symbolizing directions – black for west, red for north, yellow for east, white for south. Value eagle feathers.
– Cheyenne – Utilize red paint on shields, arrows, horses for war. Prominent beading patterns include red and black triangles signifying dualism.
– Crow – Known for vibrant geometric beadwork panels featuring diamonds, chevrons, and colors like red, yellow, green.
Eastern Woodlands Tribes
– Iroquois – Wampum belts utilized purple and white shell beads to record important laws, treaties, agreements.
– Cherokee – Rivercane baskets with double-weave patterns form vibrant diamond shapes in red, yellow, black and natural hues.
– Seminole – Intricate patchwork in applique, piecing, and geometric designs using vibrant colored fabrics.
Pacific Northwest Tribes
– Tlingit – Bold red and black painted designs prevalent on totem poles, masks, canoes symbolizing crest animals.
– Haida – Complex formline designs on boxes, masks and more incorporate black, red, blue-green, and natural wood tones.
– Kwakwaka’wakw – Vivid masks are painted with red, black, and bright green that represents supernatural creatures.
Tribal Use of White Pigments
Many tribes made extensive use of white pigments for body paint, art, pottery, and other purposes. Here are some details on common mineral pigment sources:
| Pigment | Details |
|---|---|
| Kaolin Clay | White soft clay, found in southeastern regions. Used for pottery, pigments. |
| Limestone | Crushed for white coloring. Traded through plains and southeast tribes. |
| Gypsum | Soft mineral ground for white paint. Mined by Pueblo tribes like Hopi. |
| Chalk | Soft, fine-grained limestone. Gathered by tribes like Navajo for white pigment use. |
| Abalone Shells | Pacific coast shells burned and pulverized for a luminous white powder pigment. |
The natural whites provided a base that could be mixed with other pigments like iron-rich ochre for yellows and reds. They brought light and brightness to designs. White clay provided a striking contrast when boldly painted on skin or surfaces. It also helped other applied colors pop visually.
Modern Color Symbolism & Uses
Today, many Native American artists, designers, and craftspeople work hard to keep tribal color symbolism and meaning alive through modern arts like:
– Jewelry using stones, silver, and colors connected to the land and heritage.
– Fashion and accessories that incorporate meaningful patterns, dyes, beadwork, applique.
– Paintings, sculpture, pottery and artworks that draw from tradition.
– Baskets, rugs, blankets integrating old weaving methods and special hues.
– Regalia worn for dance and ceremonial purposes, conveying identity.
Color themes are celebrated at tribal fairs and cultural events through performance, dress, and craft. Traditional dyes using plants, minerals and other natural materials are still cultivated. Each new generation learns the stories and significance behind the vibrant colors unique to their people.
Conclusion
Color has always played a vital role in Native American culture, carrying deep meaning about the world around them. Tribes expressed their unique identities and spiritual connections through symbolic use of color in rituals, art, dress and more. While common themes like red, white, and black being tied to key concepts emerged, the extensive diversity between tribes led to endless creative expression. Today, Native artists and designers preserve color heritage through modern works, passing on treasured customs. The vibrant hues woven into the tapestry of Native American life continue to tell meaningful stories.