The tribal nations of the Cherokee, Navajo, Hopi, Apache, Seminole, Pueblo, Mohawk and others were the earliest people to inhabit what has become the United States. They were all independent in their governing, spiritual practices, history, cultural traditions and artistic crafting style. Authentic products may be bought in Native American gift shops all over the country and online.
Some stores primarily cater to tourism and will feature mainly novelty products and items that are based on some of the more iconic, and generalized, images of tribal life. Examples of such goods are traditionally costumed dolls, headdresses, drums, tomahawks, bead work, dream catchers, post cards, paintings and key rings. For the most part, this type of inventory is manufactured in factories and ordered in bulk instead of being authentically hand crafted.
Usually found in areas where the modern tribal presence is strong, or near reservations, are stores that strive to provide customers with many authentic products. These items are all hand crafted one at a time by skilled tribal artisans that have mastered trade practices that have passed from one generation to another for centuries. Each one exhibits fine quality, uniqueness and attention to fine details.
To craft as the ancestors did hundreds of years in the past, and to retain authentic quality, all materials should be natural. Some of the items used in construction are feathers, fur, leather, wool, quills, gems, stones, silver and clay that actually comes from the ground. Pieces are hand made featuring earth tones, geometric shapes and focusing on spiritualism, parts of nature, animals, stars, the moon and the sun quite often.
A lot of people who seek out authentic and traditionally styled crafts of high quality often appreciate the skill of basketry. Each region varied their techniques depending on the materials that were available to work with. As an example, all types of baskets, trays and jars are constructed of whale baleen in the far north area of Alaska, thin strips of wood in the northeast and grass or yucca leaves in the southwestern zones.
Among the oldest forms of art known to man is pottery, and each of the tribes, including the Navajo, Hopi, Cherokee, Catawba and Pueblos, all cultivated their own uniquely distinctive design styles. Tradition and authenticity dictates that only natural clay be used and that pieces be done by hand without a modern potter's wheel. All colors should be of organic origin using plants and minerals as resources, and that shine and luster be achieve by methods like stone rubbing and pine pitch washes.
A specialty product of various Pueblo tribes like the Zuni, Navajo and the Hopi in particular, kachina dolls have fascinated many collectors and are a popular commodity. The totems are sculpted in dancing poses and designed to represent the sun, animals and men in their spirit forms. Making couples fertile, increasing someones health, promoting well being and making the rain fall are only a few of the supernatural abilities these figurines are said to possess.
Each region has a different style of design among artisans practicing the art of beading. The medium used by most is seed beads and they are not only used in creating jewelry, but also as embellishments on items such as drums, pipes, basket handles, fabrics, shoes and clothing. There are numerous other beautifully crafted products one may find when shopping for authentic tribal products.
Some stores primarily cater to tourism and will feature mainly novelty products and items that are based on some of the more iconic, and generalized, images of tribal life. Examples of such goods are traditionally costumed dolls, headdresses, drums, tomahawks, bead work, dream catchers, post cards, paintings and key rings. For the most part, this type of inventory is manufactured in factories and ordered in bulk instead of being authentically hand crafted.
Usually found in areas where the modern tribal presence is strong, or near reservations, are stores that strive to provide customers with many authentic products. These items are all hand crafted one at a time by skilled tribal artisans that have mastered trade practices that have passed from one generation to another for centuries. Each one exhibits fine quality, uniqueness and attention to fine details.
To craft as the ancestors did hundreds of years in the past, and to retain authentic quality, all materials should be natural. Some of the items used in construction are feathers, fur, leather, wool, quills, gems, stones, silver and clay that actually comes from the ground. Pieces are hand made featuring earth tones, geometric shapes and focusing on spiritualism, parts of nature, animals, stars, the moon and the sun quite often.
A lot of people who seek out authentic and traditionally styled crafts of high quality often appreciate the skill of basketry. Each region varied their techniques depending on the materials that were available to work with. As an example, all types of baskets, trays and jars are constructed of whale baleen in the far north area of Alaska, thin strips of wood in the northeast and grass or yucca leaves in the southwestern zones.
Among the oldest forms of art known to man is pottery, and each of the tribes, including the Navajo, Hopi, Cherokee, Catawba and Pueblos, all cultivated their own uniquely distinctive design styles. Tradition and authenticity dictates that only natural clay be used and that pieces be done by hand without a modern potter's wheel. All colors should be of organic origin using plants and minerals as resources, and that shine and luster be achieve by methods like stone rubbing and pine pitch washes.
A specialty product of various Pueblo tribes like the Zuni, Navajo and the Hopi in particular, kachina dolls have fascinated many collectors and are a popular commodity. The totems are sculpted in dancing poses and designed to represent the sun, animals and men in their spirit forms. Making couples fertile, increasing someones health, promoting well being and making the rain fall are only a few of the supernatural abilities these figurines are said to possess.
Each region has a different style of design among artisans practicing the art of beading. The medium used by most is seed beads and they are not only used in creating jewelry, but also as embellishments on items such as drums, pipes, basket handles, fabrics, shoes and clothing. There are numerous other beautifully crafted products one may find when shopping for authentic tribal products.
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