Dictionary of the American Indian

Fülszöveg

Illustrated with 5 black-and-white
line drawings
Here is a comprehensive and informative
source book of American Indian history and
lore that presents valuable information in an
accessible A-to-Z format.
From Aatsosni (one of the clans of the
Navajo, meaning "narrow gorge") to the Zuni
Pueblo (located in Gallup, New Mexico, and
noted for fine silverwork and painting), the
Dictionary of the American Indian draws upon
five years of research, travel, and interviews.
Did you know that Ds'ah is the Navajo
word for the basin sagebrush, used by the
Navajo for medicinal purposes and also to
make a light green dye?
The Eagle was used as a basis for many
ceremonies. Eagle feathers were used on war
bonnets, rattles, shields, pipes, baskets, and
prayer sticks. Clipping, coloring, and special
additions to the feathers formed a system of
ranks and deeds, making it possible to look at
an Indian and be able to tell his rank and
deeds by the types of feathers he wore and... Tovább

Fülszöveg

Illustrated with 5 black-and-white
line drawings
Here is a comprehensive and informative
source book of American Indian history and
lore that presents valuable information in an
accessible A-to-Z format.
From Aatsosni (one of the clans of the
Navajo, meaning "narrow gorge") to the Zuni
Pueblo (located in Gallup, New Mexico, and
noted for fine silverwork and painting), the
Dictionary of the American Indian draws upon
five years of research, travel, and interviews.
Did you know that Ds'ah is the Navajo
word for the basin sagebrush, used by the
Navajo for medicinal purposes and also to
make a light green dye?
The Eagle was used as a basis for many
ceremonies. Eagle feathers were used on war
bonnets, rattles, shields, pipes, baskets, and
prayer sticks. Clipping, coloring, and special
additions to the feathers formed a system of
ranks and deeds, making it possible to look at
an Indian and be able to tell his rank and
deeds by the types of feathers he wore and
how he wore them.
There are generally two types of Mocca-
sins worn by most of the Indian tribes of the
United States. The western plains tribes wore a
moccasin with a hard sole and a soft upper. The
eastern or woodland Indians wore a moccasin
with a soft sole and upper. The shapes, designs,
and materials used in making moccasins varied
from tribe to tribe and were influenced by their
location and the surrounding wildlife. Dyes
from roots, berries, and leaves were used for
decoration together with porcupine quills, and
later on, beads, shells, and buttons. The de-
signs sometimes had a specific meaning and
the colors used also had a special symbolism.
Tipi is the Siouan word for dwelling or
house. The term is used to describe the type
of dwelling of the Plains Indians; it was a cone-
shaped house made from the skins of animals,
especially the bison. The tipi differs from the
wigwam, hogan, and wickiup, and was made
from ten or more bison skins and some twenty
or more long cedar poles, depending on the
size of the family. These were tied together
at the top and the hides, which were sewn
together, were fastened around the framework.
An open top was left to let out the smoke.
All this information and much, much more
will be found in the Dictionary of the American
Indian, a work that makes an authoritative
and important contribution towards a greater
understanding of American Indian history
and culture. Vissza