The Native Americans have a deep sense of spirituality, which is reflected in their arts and crafts. Every Native American craft holds a purpose -- for example, dream catchers are hung outside of their homes to protect their children from having bad dreams. Most of the Native American crafts are created using turquoise, opal, onyx, silver, copper and brownstone. Making your own Native American craft is a great way to learn about their culture and beliefs.
Rattle
Native American rattles are made from natural items such as deer hooves or rib bones. These rattles were an important part of tribal ceremonies because they had symbolic meaning to the tribes that used them. To make your own rattle you will need a y-shaped twig, yarn, scissors, tape, feathers, beads, buttons, washers and spools. First, start winding the yarn around the twig, covering it completely. Start and end the yarn winding with knots at either end and taping the yarn to the twig. When you are wrapping the yarn around the twig you can slide on a few beads or feathers for decoration. Tie a small piece of yarn to one arm of the y in the twig. Slide a few beads, washers or spools onto the yarn. Then tie the end of the yarn to the other arm of the twig. You now have a Native American rattle to display.
Rain Sticks
Native Americans use rain sticks as a ceremonial musical instrument that invokes the rain spirits. To make your own rain stick you will need a paper towel tube, aluminum foil, tiny pasta, brown paper, glue, scissors and crayons or markers. First, trace around one end of the tube on the brown paper, then draw a slightly larger circle around the one already traced and draw many spokes between the two circles. Cut the circle out and cut along the spokes. Put a dab of glue on each spoke and cap it to one end of the tube. Cut a piece of aluminum foil about six inches wide and crunch it up in two snake-like shapes. Then twist each piece into a spring shape and slide it into the tube with the tiny pasta. Make another cap and put it on the other end of the tube. Decorate your new rain stick.
Dream Catcher
Dream catchers help the sleeper have good dreams.
Dream catchers trap bad dreams and allow the good dreams to escape down to the sleeper. To make your own dream catcher you will need a birch wreath, three inches of thin wire, twine, beads and feathers. Tie one end of twine on the wreath and string a few beads onto the twine. Wrap the twine around the other end of the wreath, resembling a triangle shape. Slide a few more beads onto the twine. Continue wrapping the twine around the wreath, creating the design you want, and keep sliding beads onto the twine as you wrap. When you have finished the design, tie the twine around the wreath. Next, hang three long pieces of twine from the bottom of the wreath. Slide a few beads onto the twine and tie a feather onto each end. You now have your own dream catcher.
Headdress
A headdress is important to the Native American culture. It is said that the headdress gave special skills and powers of animals to the person wearing it. To make your own headdress, you will need white card stock, scissors, glue, markers and a stapler. Cut a strip two inches wide and long enough to go around your head. Then cut one large leaf. Decorate these pieces with Native American symbols and colors. Wrap the strip around your head and hold the ends together to staple. Glue the leaf to the back of the strip, so the front of the leaf is showing.
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