Although many Americans are not of Native American descent, it’s hard to deny the beauty that is reflected in Native American crafts.
Many traditional native american crafts have been handed down to younger people by their ancestors. This helps to keep the culture of a particulaar Native American tribe alive.
Making your own Native American crafts is fun. Here you will find a variety of Native American crafts, as well as instructions on how to create your own designs. This is the perfect project for young children, or anyone who is fascinated with Native American culture and tradition.
We also present the traditional meanings and purposes for native crafts through tribal legends and personal antedote.
The Apache burden basket is one of the most iconic pieces of material culture from the Southwestern tribes. Instantly recognizable by its conical shape, woven body, leather fringe, and tin jingles, this basket carries more than just physical weight — it carries tradition, pride, and memory.
The Apache tribes are well known for their beautiful and practical arts and crafts. Out of all their skills, basket weaving stands out as the one they are most famous for. Apache people also make beadwork, clothing, pottery, and carvings. Each branch of the Apache tribes has their own special styles and techniques, shaped by their environment and traditions. Basket Weaving: The Best-Known Apache Craft Basket weaving is the most well-known and respected Apache craft. Apache women, especially from the…
Fired clay is the only material on earth that does not change with time. In the past, the skill of pottery making was associated with Neolithic culture, with the development of agriculture and settled communities (6000 – 4000 BCE). However, pottery was being made by Asian hunter-gatherers 13,000 years ago. By 4000 – 3000 BCE, Chinese and Middle Eastern potters were using potter’s wheels and closed kilns. By the 7th century BCE Chinese potters of the T’ang dynasty were producing unrivaled…
Hopi basketmakers are some of the finest artists in this medium in North America. Today, while many Pueblo peoples no longer weave baskets, Hopi women continue a centuries-long tradition of basketry. They are also innovative artists, developing new methods and designs from traditional ones. Red, yellow, and black are the usual colors skillfully arranged to produce katsina, animal, blanket, and geometric designs. The natural colors of plant materials used to construct the baskets serve as a background for the designs,…
This adorable native american corn husk doll makes an easy and entertaining kid’s craft project and is also fun for adults decorating with Thanksgiving craft projects. Age Appropriate: K-6 What you’ll need to make a cornhusk doll: 9-12 pieces of green corn husk String or twine Decorative pieces Scissors Bowl of water Glue
Zuni fetishes are more than just art. The Zuni consider the things least understood and most mysterious to be the most sacred and powerful. Because animal ways can never truly be understood, animals represent those unknown powers. To them, those powers can be transferred to diminutive animal carvings known as fetishes.