Color symbolism in Native American culture often mean different things from tribe to tribe...

Navajo Meanings of Colors

The Four Sacred Mountains and directions are associated with sacred colors. The Navajo belief is that their Creator placed them on the land between the following 4 mountains representing the 4 cardinal directions:

White: Mount Blanca (Tsisnaasjini' - Dawn or White Shell Mountain) Sacred Mountain of the East near Alamosa in San Luis Valley, Colorado

Blue: Mount Taylor (Tsoodzil - Blue Bead or Turquoise Mountain) Sacred Mountain of the South north of Laguna, New Mexico

Yellow: San Francisco Peaks (Doko'oosliid - Abalone Shell Mountain) Sacred Mountain of the West near Flagstaff, Arizona

Black: Mount Hesperus Dibé Nitsaa (Big Mountain Sheep) - Obsidian Mountain Sacred Mountain of the North La Plata Mountains, Colorado.

The principal colors, white, blue, yellow and black are linked to the four sacred mountains as well as the directions- Red is often considered a sacred color and represents sunlight.

White Mountain Apaches

The four sacred colors of the White Mountain Apaches in east central Arizona:

White represents the north, source of snow

Yellow is east, where the sun comes up

Green is south

Black is west, home of the sun's setting

These colors are used in a variety of settings, from the tribal government seal to the ribbons on the cane of Changing Woman (the girls' puberty ceremony).

Medicine Wheel color symbolism:

EAST- dawn of new day-Yellow-illumination-inspiration-eagle

SOUTH- red or green-passion, heart, warmth-emotions-porcupine

WEST- black-introspection, self examination, reflection-bear

NORTH- wisdom of our elders-white-white buffalo

Cherokee

The Four Directions
Colors were associated with the four directions.
Blue represented North which meant cold, defeat and trouble.
White was South representing warmth, peace and happiness.
Red was East, the color of the Sacred Fire, blood, and success.
Black was West, the color meaning problems and death.
Other colors also had special meanings.
Brown was good but yellow meant trouble and strife.

The circle was also a basic symbol for the Cherokees. The council houses were circular and the fire inside was built so that the fire would burn in a circular path. The stomp dance and other ceremonies were performed in a circular pattern.

 

This information was posted to Getty Teacher Art Exchange by Christine Merriam

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