What are some of the What are some of the contributions of Native contributions of Native

American culture to American culture to contemporary society?contemporary society?

A project of San Diego State University’s School of Social

Work

American Indian ArtAmerican Indian Art

Chiefs in Blue, Chiefs in Blue, 19951995

American Indian American Indian Artist: Artist:

Earl BissEarl Biss

American Indian ArtAmerican Indian Art

Smoke Signal, Smoke Signal, 1993 1993

American Indian American Indian Artist: Artist:

Allen HouserAllen Houser

Navajo WeavingNavajo Weaving

The Navajo woman The Navajo woman in the in the

photograph is photograph is weaving a weaving a

blanket on a blanket on a loom whose loom whose design dates design dates back to the back to the

1600s.1600s.

American Indian DanceAmerican Indian Dance

American Indian DanceAmerican Indian Dance

American Indian Inventions: The KayakAmerican Indian Inventions: The Kayak

The Kayak was The Kayak was invented by the invented by the Inuit Peoples. Inuit Peoples. Each design Each design reflected the reflected the needs of its needs of its

people and their people and their fine artistry.fine artistry.

American Indian Inventions: LacrosseAmerican Indian Inventions: Lacrosse

The game of lacrosse The game of lacrosse was invented by the was invented by the

Native American Native American tribes living around tribes living around

the St. Lawrence the St. Lawrence River in New York River in New York and Ontario, and and Ontario, and

was spread by the was spread by the Huron and the Huron and the

Iroquois.Iroquois.

American Indian AstronomyAmerican Indian Astronomy

The Big Horn Medicine The Big Horn Medicine Wheel has 28 spokes Wheel has 28 spokes that represent the 28 that represent the 28 days of the lunar cycle. days of the lunar cycle. The center cairn and The center cairn and the one outside the rim the one outside the rim establish an alignment establish an alignment with the rising sun on with the rising sun on summer solstice and summer solstice and another cairn measures another cairn measures the setting sun on the the setting sun on the same day. same day.

American Indian AstronomyAmerican Indian Astronomy

The number 4 also The number 4 also corresponds to the corresponds to the four sacred elements four sacred elements of Earth, Water, Fire of Earth, Water, Fire and Air. The Lakota and Air. The Lakota oral traditions saw oral traditions saw the four elements the four elements also relating to the also relating to the four colors of the four colors of the medicine wheel-- red, medicine wheel-- red, yellow, black and yellow, black and white which reflects white which reflects the 4 main races of the 4 main races of the world.the world.

"Flag Raising At Iwo Jima""Flag Raising At Iwo Jima"

On a hilltop above a On a hilltop above a Pacific island, a small Pacific island, a small

group of Marines group of Marines struggled to raise the struggled to raise the American flag to claim American flag to claim

victory over the victory over the Japanese occupancy. As Japanese occupancy. As

the flag was being the flag was being raised, Ira Hayes, Pima raised, Ira Hayes, Pima

rushed to help his rushed to help his comrades.comrades.

Ira HayesIra Hayes

Ira Hayes was born Ira Hayes was born on the Pima on the Pima

Indian Indian Reservation in Reservation in

Sacaton, ArizonaSacaton, Arizona

Influence in Art & Influence in Art & ArchitectureArchitecture

Mayan Murals of Bonampak & QuetzalcoatlMayan Murals of Bonampak & Quetzalcoatl

Precolumbian Inca JewelryPrecolumbian Inca Jewelry

TheThe Cocoa TreeCocoa Tree

In 600 A.D. the In 600 A.D. the Mayans migrated into Mayans migrated into the northern regions the northern regions of South America, of South America, establishing the establishing the earliest known cocoa earliest known cocoa plantations in the plantations in the Yucatan. It has been Yucatan. It has been argued that the argued that the Mayans had been Mayans had been familiar with cocoa familiar with cocoa several centuries several centuries prior to this date.prior to this date.

Our Contributions to US PolicyOur Contributions to US Policy

It is no coincidence It is no coincidence that the U.S. that the U.S. Constitution Constitution strikingly strikingly resembles, in both resembles, in both principle and form, principle and form, the Great Law of the Great Law of Peace of the Six Peace of the Six Nations Nations Confederacy of the Confederacy of the Iroquois League.Iroquois League.

Kumeyaay ArtKumeyaay Art

Kumeyaay Kumeyaay Pictographs at Pictographs at Indian Hill: 'Blue Indian Hill: 'Blue Sun Cave', a Sun Cave', a name derived name derived from the blue from the blue sun burst in the sun burst in the upper left.upper left.

Luiseno ArtLuiseno Art

Luiseno BasketsLuiseno Baskets

Cahuilla ArtCahuilla Art

Cahuilla Coiled Cahuilla Coiled Cahuilla Kilt Cahuilla Kilt

Basket TrayBasket Tray

Cupeno ArtCupeno Art

Cupeño throwing stick Cupeño throwing stick

for hunting rabbitsfor hunting rabbits

Gabrielino ArtGabrielino Art

Gabrielino rock artGabrielino rock art

Serrano ArtSerrano Art

Serrano Indian open container basket is Serrano Indian open container basket is made of sumac and naturally-dried made of sumac and naturally-dried

juncus on a grass foundation.juncus on a grass foundation.

American Indian Culture: YaquiAmerican Indian Culture: Yaqui

Yaqui Deer Dance   Yaqui MoccasinsYaqui Deer Dance   Yaqui Moccasins

American Indian Culture: American Indian Culture: TlinglitTlinglit

Tlingit Rattle Tlingit Rattle Tlinglit CraneTlinglit Crane

Top Basket Top Basket

American Indian Culture: American Indian Culture: OsageOsage

Osage BlanketOsage Blanket Osage Moccasins Osage Moccasins

Why Are We Here?Why Are We Here?We’re Here to Collaborate!We’re Here to Collaborate!

So that our work together will produce Positive Outcomes for

rural Tribal youth!

Please Contact UsPlease Contact Us

• Tribal STAR website:http://theacademy.sdsu.edu/TribalSTAR

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