Much of the design of Native American blankets and throws, as well as items like Hopi Indian jewelry, is inspired by American Indian legend. The Native Americans are known to be very spiritual people – but do they follow a religion? And how does spirituality differ between tribes? Just like every...

Just like in other important areas of life, there are numerous traditional Native American customs attached to weddings. Some of these are incorporated into wedding ceremonies to this day. From Native American jewelry in a modern wedding to wedding vases and traditional apparel, these customs dif...

One art form for which Native Americans of the USA, Canada, and Central America are most widely renowned is beadwork. This beautiful craft is highly collectible and has been at the forefront of tribal trade for thousands of years. Everything from knife sheaths to moccasins, clothing to papooses, ...

Something old, Something new, Something borrowed, Something blue. If you’re planning your wedding, chances are you’ll want something blue – it’s a common European tradition, after all. But have you considered wearing a gorgeous piece of Native American turquoise jewelry as your something blue? Wh...

Few people today understand the role that Native Americans have played alongside other Americans in armed conflicts, both in the USA and worldwide. From the renowned Navajo Code Talkers of WWII to the Native American Scouts in the Vietnam War, our American Indian people have played a critical par...

Among the many things 2020 will be remembered for, one stands in a positive light. This year the living history museum, Plimoth Plantation, is changing its name to better reflect the true history of the land on which it stands. It is timely, as this is 400 years since the European Pilgrims landed...

Native Americans are renowned for their beautiful, long dark hair. Long hair itself has great meaning to the Native American people (more on this to come in a future post). But did you know that some tribal groups had their own unique ways of styling their hair? Hairstyling traditionally varied b...

Among the popular stones used in Native American jewelry of the Southwest are the black stones Onyx, Jet, and Apache Tear. All these stones polish to a shiny finish, and they are valued as protective, grounding stones. While these can be difficult to tell apart, they are not the same stone. Onyx ...

Native American culture fascinates so many of us, and we embrace it by adorning our homes with Native American blankets, wearing Navajo turquoise jewelry, and by reading stories and legends. But are any of these legends based on truth? More specifically, is the legend of Hiawatha based...