This document discusses various forms of art in Native American cultures, including dance, singing, basket weaving, and body art. It describes how dance became an important religious practice in the 19th century led by a man named Wovoka who taught dances to regenerate the earth. It explains that Native Americans dance, sing, and perform body art for purposes of healing, connecting with spirits and deceased loved ones, and bringing tribes together. Singing often accompanies dance and uses instruments like drums, flutes, and rain sticks. Basket weaving was traditionally done by women and children and was used for carrying items and trading between tribes and with settlers. Face paints and tattoos were also used for expression, tradition, and

1. AN EMPHASIS ON
NATIVE AMERICAN ART

2. 
DANCE
SINGING
BASKET WEAVING
BODY ART
NATIVE AMERICANS EXPRESS THEIR CULTURE IN
MANY DIFFERENT FORMS OF ART

3. 
 In the 19th century dance became a religion for
Native American’s when a man named Wovoka
whom was believed to be a Messiah told the Natives
that Spirits showed him movements and songs that
regenerate the earth.
HOW DID THIS DANCE BEGIN

4. WHAT DO THEY DANCE FOR?
 Contact with their deceased
Natives believe that it is
possible connect with their
loved ones that have died.
 Healing
Natives believe that dancing to
their gods is a natural way of
healing.
 Unification between rival tribes
Natives believe that they dance
can bring rival tribes closer
together by setting aside their
differences with dance.

5. Native American Instruments in Song
Native Americans use various musical instruments while singing these instruments
included drums, flutes, rain sticks and guitars.

6. Native American Voices in Song
Although Native Americans use instruments with their songs the key focus is their
voices. Voice is very important to the Natives. Singing varies tremendously
amongst all of the tribes.

7. 
 Along with dance the Native Americans sing for
healing, bringing forward spirits and for connecting
with their deceased loved ones.
 Combined with dance the Natives believe that
singing can help heal the earth by asking for rain for
their soil.
 Men and women do not practice this in the same
way. Women sing and dance in place and the Men
dance and sing while moving around typically in
circles.
WHAT DO THEY SING FOR?

8. Native American Basket Weaving
Native American Baskets can date back to almost 12,000 years old. Basket weavers
were typically women and children. Baskets used on a daily basis for carrying items
such as plants, food, nuts and they were even woven tight enough to carry water

9. 
WHAT ELSE DID THEY USE BASKETS FOR?
 In the early days Native
Americans used their
baskets, beads and fur
to trade with the
Americans for items
such as tobacco, money,
and foods they did not
have access to.
 They also traded their
baskets with other
tribes. Not all tribes
used the same colors or
had the same patterns,
this made trade
desirable to them.

10. 
NATIVE AMERICANS USE FACE PAINT AND TATTOOS AS A FORM OF EXPRESSION
AND FEELINGS. SOME ALSO USE IT AS A TRADITION TO PASS DOWN FROM TRIBE TO
TRIBE. TATTOOS CAN BE USED TO IDENTIFY WHAT TRIBE A MEMBER BELONGS TO.

11. Bibliography
Campbell, P. D. (2007). Earth Pigments and Paint of the California Indians. Retrieved 05
01, 2014, from kumeyaay.info:
http://www.kumeyaay.info/body_paint_pigments.html?http%3A//www.kumey
aay.info/body_paint_pigments/earth_pigments_paint.html
Indians.org. (1995). Native American Music. Retrieved 03 28, 2013, from Indians.org:
http://www.indians.org/articles/native-american-music.html
Native Peoples of North America-Great Basin Culture Area. (2000, March 09). Retrieved
January 26, 2014, from Native Peoples of North America:
http://cabrillo.edu/~crsmith/noamer_basin.html
Spiritalk Gathering. (2011). Native American Ghost Dance. Retrieved 04 20, 2014, from
Native-Americans-Online.com: http://www.native-americans-online.com/native-
american-ghost-dance.html
The Wikipedia Foundation, Inc. (n.d.). Basket Weaving. Retrieved 04 15, 2014, from
Wikipedia.org: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basket_weaving