Art and IdentityIn Aboriginal Culture

Aboriginal Art• Instead of using letters and writing things downs art was

used to document and remember important events • Important events could be battles, treaties, trades with

other tribes, wars or hunting trips • Objects were decorated to document these events• Dreams could be drawn or painted onto the sides of tipi’s by

skilled artists so they could be remembered • Tipis were painted upon with good deed the owner had

done or religious symbols they felt were important to show on their homes

• We will be focusing on the Plains people and the decoration or lack thereof on their Tipi’s

Designs and Decoration • These designs are more than pretty pictures• Tipi’s were decorated with geometric patterns,

animal depictions or important symbols• They were decorated with strands of animal

hair, beads, claws or fringe from animal hides• Could be coloured with dyes of fruits or berries.

Designs and Decoration

• The bottom ring of the Tipi is the earth, some shapes may be rounded and they are hills some may be pointed and they are mountains

• The middle section must include the spirit helpers of the owner or special events that have helped shaped the owner

• The top sections represents the sky with the sun, moon and stars

• Some Tipis may contain pictures of animals and these are of animal spirits that have come to help guide the family or owner of this Tipi

Examples:The Buffalo could be symbolizing a hunting trip they find meaningful

The man on the horse appears to be wearing a headdress, a shield and a long arrow or other object that could be symbolizing a specific battle that was important or special event in their life

Examples:Shamans are religious creatures or chosen earth beings along with stars have been painted onto these Tipis

Here is a picture that has been drawn of a group of Tipis they have animals painted or drawn onto the sides of them along with solid lines and shapes

Examples: