A dreamcatcher is a handmade object based on a hoop, incorporating a loose net and decorated with items unique to the particular dreamcatcher. In Native American culture, dreamcatchers were made as a charm to protect sleeping children from nightmares. The legend is that the dreamcatcher will catch bad dreams during the night, letting through only good ones.

Dreamcatchers are a authentic Native American Indian tradition, can be traced to the Ojibway (Chippewa tribe). The Ojibway would tie strands of sinew string around a frame of bent wood that as in a small round or tear drop shape. The pattern of the dreamcatcher would be similar to how the Ojibways tied the webbing for their snowshoes.

The Ojibway hang the dreamcatcher as a charm to protect sleeping children from nightmares. The legend is that the bad dreams will get caught in the web and disappear in the morning sun. Meanwhile, good dreams will find their way to the center of the dreamcatcher and float down the feather.

Pow wow is a fascinating gathering of Native American Indians which may last from days to a week. Pow wow is an important cultural expression of the Native American heritage.

The name pow wow derives from the Narragansett word powwaw, meaning shaman. It has since come to be used to describe any gathering of Native Americans of any tribes. An early twenty-first century pow wow is a specific type of event held by Native Americans.

Pow wows have evolved from a formal ceremony of the past into modern blend of dance, family reunion and festival. Over time Pow wow traditions have adapted and changed into a bright, fast and exciting event geared towards Native Americans and visitors alike.

Pow wows can vary in length from a single session of 5-6 hours to three days with one to three sessions a day. Major pow wows or pow wows called for a special occasion can be up to one week long.

Long ago the Native American Indian decorated their garments with painted designs. They made colors with pigments of earth, grasses, clays, and berries. In time they began to make fine porcupine-quill embroidery, which they colored by boiling the quills in the paint pigments. Native American Indians also made beads from bone, shell, or dried berries. They fashioned the beads into necklaces or decorations for the fringes of their garments and bags.

About 1675 the European traders brought colorful glass beads to the tribes. The earliest beads brought by the white people were called pony beads by the Indians because they were brought in by the traders pony pack trains. Most of these beads were dark blue. Some were white and a few were a dull red color. The Indians worked them into several rows of blue, then a few rows of white and again the blues. This type of pony beadwork continued until about 1840, when a smaller seed bead was brought in. The Indians still use seed beads.

The music of the Native American Indians consists mostly of songs and dances. They have songs for games, children, love, work and social dancing. But most of their music is associated with some kind of religious activity.

RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES
Before 1900 the Plains Indians performed the ghost dance. It was supposed to drive away the hated white men and help the Native Americans get back their land and buffalo. It consisted mainly of singing and dancing. Although the Native Americans do not do the ghost dance anymore, they still sing the songs.

Ghost dance songs are different from other songs of the Plains Indians. They do not go very high or very low, and they repeat each phrase of melody before going on to the next. The older songs of the Plains Indians start very high and work their way down to a low, long, drawn-out tone. These songs are accompanied by a drum played loudly and slowly.

Kokopelli is a fertility deity, who is worshipped by many Native American Indian tribes in the Southwest. And like most fertility deities, Kokopelli presides over both childbirth and agriculture. He is also thought to be a trickster god, traveling trader, insect, musician, warrior and hunting magician.

Kokopelli likeness varies almost as much as his legends. He is usually illustrated as a humpbacked flute player often with a huge phallus and antenna-like protrusions on his head. The first identified images of him appear on Hohokam pottery dated to sometime between 750 A.D and 850 A.D.

There are several species of salmon fish in the Pacific Northwest region. These are the Coho, Sockeye, Pink, Chum, Atlantic and the largest which is the King or Chinook. Salmon are born in the rivers and swim down to the ocean where they live in the saltwater. At spawning time, they return to the river where they were born, lay the eggs, and then die.

The young hatch and start the life cycle over again. Salmon fish have always been an important mainstay food source for the Northwest Native Indian people as well as much wildlife in the region including many large birds, bears, and river otters. This is the reason why the salmon is a popular subject in Northwest Native Indian artwork and culture.

There are several species of salmon fish in the Pacific Northwest region. These are the Coho, Sockeye, Pink, Chum, Atlantic and the largest which is the King or Chinook. Salmon are born in the rivers and swim down to the ocean where they live in the saltwater. At spawning time, they return to the river where they were born, lay the eggs, and then die.

There is no other style that's quite as distinctive as the Southwestern dcor. There are two style the natural version and the city version but no matter which you have adding sand painted lamps to your southwest dcor will definitely look great!

If you're not sure what a southwest dcor might look like picture the Grand Canyon's red mountains, the green of the tall desert cactus, and the Native American and Mexican pottery and textiles that are such an important part of American heritage.



The two types of southwestern style are the same but different. Colors remain true to both. Think desert sunset, prairies, and hills. But the materials used are different. The natural version uses over scaled furniture that's rugged and rustic with plenty of wood, iron, and stone. The city version uses peach and teal colors, wall hangings, coyote figurines, and plastic cactus decorations.

The natural is by far the most superior design. Use Native American Indian accents such as tapestries, pottery, textiles, and paintings. Organic materials including rocks, stone, wood, and metal are important and so are adobe fireplace and log pole ladders. Use lots of bright patterns within natural colored fabrics.

You might think about doing your walls in soft sand tones with perhaps a deep contrasting red wall. Use Navajo designs and patterns for borders and throw rugs.

And to go with all that dcor nothing looks better than Navajo Sand Painted Lamps. The sand paintings transposed onto the lamps come from full size Navajo paintings, many from healing ceremonies.

Sand paintings are very colorful and detailed and each figure has a special meaning. The designs are those that are very familiar and very important to the Navajo people. Yels or Yays which are the Navajo holy people are very common in sand paintings combined with the four sacred plants - tobacco, squash, beans, and corn - are all very popular in the sand paintings. You will also commonly find plants, lightning, animals, bows & arrows, and rainbow.

Traditional artists make the sand from rocks that are gathered and then crush into sand producing the wide array of colors used in sand paintings. This amazing art form has been transformed onto the lamps by the artists. This is a very complex process since a lamp is not a flat surface like a painting. The end results are spectacular!

If you are going to try your hand at a sand painted lamp then you can purchase the correct type of sand at your local craft store or department stores like Walmart.

There are many different sizes of sand painted lamps on the market from the smaller accent lamps to the larger table lamps. Choose shades that are in the traditional southwestern colors and make sure that the shade does not overpower the art work on the lamp body.

Choose lamps in a size that works with your room and don't be afraid to place them in positions that make them stand out and get noticed. The sand painted lamps are truly a work of art and it's a shame to tuck them out of the way where they don't get the attention the deserve.

Joanne is an author of Decorz.com. If you're looking for more lighting decor ideas for your home visit http://www.decorz.com.


Native American

In the United States, a large amount of information is taught in local schools. This information is often vital to the success of a student. Math, science, English, physical education, and history are taught in many schools. The information taught in those subjects varies from school to school. Unfortunately, not everything that should be taught in a lesson plan is.

The history of Native American Indians is something that many individuals know little about. Native American Indian history is taught in most schools located on Indian reservations, but they should not be the only place where it is taught. Most public and private schools quickly cover Native American Indian history, but many students do not learn everything they could or should.



If Native American Indian history is not extensively covered in your child’s school, there are a number of ways that you can educate them yourself. Many parents wonder why they should continue to educate their children on the history of Native American Indians. The answer varies, but there are number of different ways that a child could benefit from being educated on Native American Indian history.

As previously mentioned, there are a number of different ways to educate your children on the history of Native American Indians. Many of these ways can include the whole family. In addition to educating your child, your family could also spend quality time together. What could be more fun than that?

In history classes across the country, most students are educated in the form of books. Books are a valuable source of information, but there are ways to educate a child and have fun at the same time. Parents are encouraged to take their children to a Native American Indian museum. Native American Indian museums are located all around the country. They allow children to physically see Native American Indian artifacts and much more. This experience is more memorable than reading a passage out of a book.

Another way to educate your children on Native American Indian history is to play a game. There are a number of online websites that offer homemade game ideas or you could develop your own. Board games or flash card games can be developed. These games can easily include important Native American Indian history facts. Children of all ages love games and it is a fun way to learn at the same time.

In addition to playing a history game or visiting a museum, it is also possible to learn the history of Native American Indians by watching movies. There are a wide variety of educational movies available for parents and children of all ages. Watching these movies together as a family is a great way for everyone to educate themselves on the struggles that the Native American Indians faced and the victories that they achieved.

It has been said that children that are educated on the history of multiple cultures will grow-up more diverse. Don’t limit your child by only letting their school educate them. You never know, but you may learn valuable Native American Indian history facts yourself.

About the Author
Edward Charkow is the administrator for American Indian History. For more information please visit: http://www.americanindian-history.com


Native American , History

To a shaman a kachina isn't really a doll or a child's toy. Also, it isn't a collector's piece of art or a decoration. However, it is often used that way, and that's ok too. There is a place for that approach in our lives. They do make a powerful addition to any home's decor, and make a great conversation piece. So, if you are a history buff, especially American history, a kachina collection is most appropriate. Kachinas origionally came from the Hopi and Navajo tribes in the American Southwest. If you enjoy sacred art, like I do, add a kachina to your collection.

However, if you are a mystic, shaman or are spiritually oriented, a kachina is really a working tool. The kachina acts as a connection to aspects of the life force. Some kachinas act as a contact to protective energies. All kachinas connect you and your environment to spirit forces that can be helpful to you in endless ways. They change the Feng Shui of any room or situation for the better.


So when searching for a kachina, look for it's qualities and it's historical use. If you need help with any issue in your life, purchase a kachina that is designed to target that problem. If you can't locate one that is exact to your needs, then go with your gut reaction...and trust that.

A kachina is really a type of primitive fetish, something you really relate and connect to. If you don't relate deeply, the kachina will not be as effective as a helping tool. You do need to talk and communicate with the kachina, like some speak to saints, and ask for specfic help.

If you use your kachina as a sacred messinger, keep the area around the fetish clean and clear. You want to help the kachina to not pick up negative or damaging energies. Treat the kachina and it's environment as you would any sacred object, and enjoy it's help.

Finally, like all relationships, your connection to your kachina can take time. The longer you have it the more you get to know each other. So as time goes by, your kachina can shift it's help to you as your needs change.

* There are many kachinas available today, some are expensive...one of a kind works of art. However, as a working tool you don't have to spend alot to get the right piece. Remember that your connection to the specific kachina is more critical then anything.....it simply must 'talk' to you.

* As a shaman, I have seen kachinas helping people who didn't even realize that they were getting help. So you don't have to be a believer........they help anyway. Hey, we could all use a little help these days!

About the Author
Jerry is a professional shaman. He publishes an online magazine dealing with shamanism and holistic living. You can view a good selection of inexpensive kachinas in the publication: To access the magazine or shop for kachinas, click here: http://www.jeremiahhuck.workzsites.com/page/page/2189668.htm





Native American , art

The Kachina doll is one of the most prominent forms of Southwest Native Indian artwork. Masked and costumed Native Indian dancers who represented various spiritual and natural elements of life are called Kachinas. Spirits could represent different types of people including clowns, singers, warriors and even wood carriers. Various wildlife or animals such as eagles, bears, buffalos, deer, owls, butterflies and badgers are often represented. There are Kachinas for the sun, moon, stars, earth and even different crops such as squash.

There is a Kachina spirit for every purpose and in fact, there are over 900 documented Kachinas in history. Kachinas are considered guardians or messengers to the Gods. Interestingly enough, dancers from the tribes are usually male even if a female Kachina is impersonated in a performance.
Southwest Native Indian tribes such as the Navajo, Zuni and Hopi, made Kachina dolls for use in religious ceremonies. The carved Kachina doll was also used as a teaching tool. What the spirits taught the elders of the tribes were then taught to the others through the representations in the Kachina dolls.
Kachina dolls were originally given to women and children of the tribes as gifts but later on, they were made for everyone’s enjoyment. Kachina dolls are one of the major art forms right up there along with rugs, jewelry and pottery in Southwest Native Indian art.
Common sizes for Kachina dolls range from a few inches to over 20 inches in height. One can easily find smaller dolls which are often priced under $100 but a large Kachina doll made by a well known name artist could easily be priced at several thousand dollars. Such a doll is a much sought after and highly prized piece of artwork by collectors of Southwest Indian art. Original higher end Kachinas are usually signed by the artist and come with some sort of documentation certifying its authenticity. Collectors should seek out only reputable sellers of Kachina dolls to ensure Native made artwork.

About the Author
Clint Leung is owner of Free Spirit Gallery (http://www.FreeSpiritGallery.ca) , an online gallery specializing in Inuit Eskimo and Northwest Native American art including carvings, sculpture and prints. Free Spirit Gallery has numerous information resource articles with photos of authentic Inuit and Native Indian art as well as free eCards.



Native American , art , Craft

There has been an increasing interest in male sexual enhancement solutions and it stands to reason that it may be difficult to decide which product is right for you. On MensBlogTalk.com you can hear what real people are saying about Sarsaparilla

To get up to date information on Sarsaparilla, check out the in-depth review on the respected TheMansChoice.com

Review Summary

Sarsaparilla is the root of a vine native to tropical areas in the Western Hemisphere and used by the indigenous peoples there for a variety of conditions, including impotence and sterility. It is becoming popular as a male enhancement drug because some believe it helps the body produce testosterone. Not all experts agree and the verdict is out, as consumers have not experienced the so-called benefits and testing has not confirmed the claims.

Ingredients At A Glance

This plant, and the medicinal compounds made from its root, should not be confused with sasparilla, which is derived from a tree and used as a flavoring for root beer. Sarsaparilla, or Smilax, is a woody vine in the lily family that grows in the rainforest. It produces climbing tendrils, flowers and berries, but the medicinal part used by humans is the root, which can grow to 6 to 8 feet. Sarsaparilla can be made into a tea and is also sold in capsules.

Ingredients In Focus

Sarsaparilla root has been used by natives of tropical regions of the Western Hemisphere - Central and South America and the Caribbean - for centuries. It was brought back to Europe by explorers who noticed the way it was used as a medicine: It is a detoxifier, anti-bacterial, digestive, pain reliever, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant that is used to relieve fever and rheumatism. It was used to treat syphilis until the early 20th century. It has also been used to treat impotency (erectile dysfunction, or ED) and sterility in traditional societies. There is not actual proof that this herb has carried out the purported functions. The root contains plant steroids and saponins, which some claim help the body to produce testosterone (activity has been demonstrated in laboratories but not in the human body as yet). The saponins are also believed to help the body absorb other nutrients and make the ingredients in natural supplements more bioavailable.

Lifestyle

While it is used to treat ED in the rainforest, perhaps in conjunction with other elements that those outside that environment know nothing around, Sarsaparilla has not been shown to have any efficacy in the production of testosterone or in promoting circulation to the genitals to aid erectile function. Some plant steroids have been shown to be a precursor to hormone production in the laboratory, but these effects have not been duplicated in the human body. Sarsaparilla, however, is known to be a healthy general tonic and to help the body absorb other nutrients, so it could be a good addition to a male enhancer that contains other, proven ingredients like Tribulus Terrestris and Yohimbe. It is available as a supplement by itself or in combination with other ingredients. There are no known adverse side effects, although taking large doses is thought cause some irritation to the gastrointestinal tract.

Positives

• Contains plant steroids and saponins
• Possible general tonic for health


Negatives

• Not proven effective in treating ED
• May work better when combined with other ingredients


Final Thoughts

Some marketers of Sarsaparilla claim that it contains testosterone; this is patently false as no plant materials so far have been shown to contain that hormone. Others claim that the plant steroids and saponins in this root are involved in conversion to testosterone, but this so far has not been clinically proven. This is likely why most men who have commented on using this herb for sexual enhancement do not have anything good to say. This ingredient is a very useful one, medicinally, but not so much for ED or other male sexual dysfunctions. We would recommend it only as part of a combination supplement that contains powerful enhancers like Tribulus Terrestris and Yohimbe and/or Damiana. The links posted above will direct readers to consumer provided information on hundreds of male enhancement products. The resources are quite popular among men who are conducting searched for male enhancement methods.




About the Author
Shane Crafton is a diet editor, who's team specializes in health, fitness and weight loss reporting.

Native America

Both Inuit Eskimo art and Native American art have gained international recognition as valuable art forms over the past few decades. However, the rising popularity of both Inuit Eskimo art and Native American art has resulted in the increased proliferation of imitations and mass-produced reproductions of original Native arts. Some obvious fakes are made in Asia from molds where the finished pieces are forms of plastic, resin or ceramic.

Other fakes are actually made of cast stone simulating actual Inuit Eskimo art carvings and wood for imitation Native American carvings. These fakes, which are harder to distinguish from authentic artwork, are often hand carved reproductions of an original piece of artwork. Workshops have illegally reproduced hundreds of copies without the artisan’s permission. The counterfeiting companies would then attach some type of tag that claims the fake pieces were influenced by aboriginal artisans and even background information on the Native designs used in the artwork. Some even go as far as adding in Inuit syllabics on the bottom of the fake Inuit Eskimo art carvings.

These are very deceptive tactics on their part since they give the consumers the impression that the imitations are authentic and income producing for the aboriginal communities. Fakes and imitations have lowered the image of authentic Inuit Eskimo art and Native American art. Sales of genuine aboriginal artwork have declined which in turn have deprived aboriginal artisans of income. The argument against these claims is that not every consumer can afford to buy authentic Inuit Eskimo art or Native American art so the souvenir level reproductions legitimately meet this part of the market. The imitations, which are usually low priced, enable students visiting Canada for example, to bring home a Canadian souvenir without breaking their travel budget. This claim would have more support from Native communities if aboriginal artisans were paid a fair royalty as income for each imitation and reproduction piece sold. However, this is seldom the case since most of the time, no royalties are paid at all.
The obvious fakes can be spotted quite easily. An imitation of an Inuit Eskimo art carving spotted at a gift shop was not made of stone as it was not cold to the touch. It was very light in weight unlike a stone which has some mass to it. The detail and the bottom of the piece had the molded look to it. There was even a sticker on the bottom with the company name Wolf Originals. Side by side comparisons of similar pieces in the souvenir store revealed that they were all identical in every detail, which is impossible for original artwork.

A black totem pole had a very flat uniform back and bottom again giving away the fact that it came from a mold. Other totem poles made from wood or mixed wood with a claim that they were hand painted were among many similar pieces in the store. All of these examples were each priced less than $20 Canadian which was another indicator that they were not original artwork.
Imitations of Inuit Eskimo art sculptures were recently spotted for sale in shops located at major Canadian airports. From a distance, these Inuit Eskimo art sculptures of hunters, polar bears and Inuit women with children looked very authentic. However, each piece had several identical copies on the same shelf.

To avoid accidentally buying a fake or imitation, it is suggested that consumers buy Inuit Eskimo art and Native American art from only reputable galleries and dealers rather than from tourist souvenir shops. A piece of original, authentic Inuit Eskimo art or Native American art is one of a kind. There should be no other identical pieces on the shelves. In addition, original Inuit Eskimo art carvings should come with an Igloo tag (or sticker) which is a Canadian government registered trademark. Inuit Eskimo art carvings that are certified by the Canadian government to be handmade by Inuit artisans, come with Igloo tags.



About the Author
Clint Leung is owner of Free Spirit Gallery http://www.FreeSpiritGallery.ca , an online gallery specializing in Inuit Eskimo and Northwest Native American art including carvings, sculpture and prints. Free Spirit Gallery has numerous information resource articles with photos of authentic Inuit and Native Indian art as well as free eCards.

Native American