Coastal California tribes often used natural materials such as sea shells to decorate belts, bags and jewelry.
In the pre-imperialist age, when Native Americans lived free of European influence and dominance, many indigenous cultures flourished. With 15 to 20 million people and over 1000 different tribes, Native American clothing, tools and customs varied widely by region. There were over 50 different Indian nations alone in what is now California, and baskets, pottery, stone carvings, clothing and jewelry were among the most commonly crafted items in this region. Incorporating the distinctive California Native American characteristics, these craft projects represent authentic indigenous art, resourcefulness and spirituality.
Baskets
California's peaceful Pomo tribe is known for their colorful, hand-woven baskets, which were made out of different kinds of feathers. Make your own Pomo basket by sewing bright colorful feathers into a soft fabric basket or by hot-gluing feathers onto a plain wooden basket. For a more sophisticated basket project, take influence from California's Chumash Indians, and weave long blades of faux grasses into a wicker basket, following the basket's weave pattern, to recreate this tribe's impressive grass basket-weaving work.
Bags, Purses and Jewelry
The Shoshoni Nation, native to California, crafted impressive bags, purses and parfleche, or rawhide containers, made from tanned skins, shells and clay beads. Make a Shoshoni-inspired handbag or general container for the home out of leather and sew geometric or animal patterns onto the front with different colored beads. Or, create California Native American jewelry replicas with natural materials. California's Hupa Indians often made jewelry with bone and shells, while the Yurok Indians often crafted jewelry from wood. Silver and amethyst were abundant natural materials frequently used to make rings and necklaces by both tribes. Craft a modern version with silver chain or wire and faux crystals from a craft supply store.
Related posts
Creating Native American art is a wonderful way to learn about Native Americans and create colorful artwork. Many Native American crafts are made with natural materials including feathers, shells,...
Combine your Christmas traditions with a lesson in Native American history.While the indigenous Native American populations did not normally celebrate Christmas, the interaction with early colonia...
There are over 500 Native American tribes.Native American cultures are very diverse, and most tribes have their own style of regalia---traditional clothing---for ceremonial occasions. For example,...
Knife making has changes over time. Native Americans used two stones to form a sharp-pointed end.Native American tribes have made their own tools for hundreds of years, and, although technology ha...
Native American dance staffs are used in traditional ceremonies.A Native American dance staff or stick is a unique part of the dance ritual used during campfire dances. Often they were used in war...
