Family Symbol

 


Native American Symbols or a pictogram, like the Family symbol, can vary in meaning from one tribe to another and across the culture groups of North America. 

Discover facts and information about the meanings of secret and mysterious symbols and pictograms used by Native American Indians including the Family symbol.

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Native American Symbols
Native Indian Tribes Index

Meaning of the Family Symbol
Native American Indians were a deeply spiritual people and they communicated their history, thoughts, ideas and dreams from generation to generation through symbols. Native American symbols are generally geometric portrayals of celestial bodies, natural phenomena and animal designs. The concept of the family would have been conveyed via a pictogram or using a number of symbols which when put together convey a different meaning and tell a story. The Family Symbol is therefore a combination of the Native American symbol for a man, woman, boy and girl. It is also worth noting that a deer symbolized family protection
. In Lakota Sioux mythology, Chapa is the beaver spirit and symbolizes domesticity, labor and preparation.  

The Family Symbol
The family symbol of the man, woman and children are surrounded by a circle. A circle around other Native American symbols signifies family ties, closeness & protection. The circle has no break and holds that which cannot be broken. The circle is used as a basis for many symbols including the cycle of life from birth to death to rebirth.

The raising of children was the responsibility of many relatives, not just the biological mother and father. In many Native American cultures each child had many fathers, many mothers, and many siblings.

The Family Symbol
The family symbol can be used as several icons. A woman symbol in a circle is combined with the symbols for a boy and girl and can be interpreted as a Mother and child symbol. It might also be interpreted as a symbol of a grandmother.

The Symbol for Sisters depict a similar icon with two women who are positioned side-by-side representing unity and equality. The Symbol for Brothers  are represented by a similar sign. The line connecting the symbols indicates that they are brothers or sisters who are bonded together and share a journey through life.

        

The Family Symbol is a Pictogram
The family symbol is in a fact a cross between a pictogram and a symbol. The family symbol consisting of men, women and children is featured in many pictograms. A pictogram, also called a pictograph, conveys a story and meaning through pictures that signify and resemble the shapes of physical objects or people. An Ideagram is another form of pictogram which conveys complex ideas, feelings and emotions. A pictogram, such as the one depicting a family, is a therefore a form of writing which uses drawings to tell a story. The picture below is a pictogram that depicts the migration of a family due to the movement of various animals. The Nomadic lifestyle followed by families of the Great Plains Indian tribes coincided with the buffalo migration.

native-american-symbols-migration

Native American Pictogram - Symbols depicting migration of animals and the Nomadic family units

The Native American Family
The Native American family unit was often misunderstood by the European settlers. The Indian family divided the workload between men and women. The men were responsible for making weapons, hunting and protecting the family. Hunting and fishing were deemed as recreational by the Europeans so Indian men were deemed to be lazy. The women were viewed as the hard workers. They looked after the home and the family including the building and upkeep of their shelter, making clothes, fetching water and preparing food. Much of the work of women required physical labor which Europeans found unacceptable. The Europeans also disapproved of the lenient treatment of the children in the family unit. Native American children were given gifts, rarely chastised and never beaten.

Mother and Child inside a lodge

Mother and Child inside a lodge

The Family Symbol
The family symbol is also represented by a triangle symbol which reflects the shape of the tepee which is the home to many many Native American tribes.

Triangle Home and Family Symbol 

Apache Hide Painting

Family Symbol and Pictogram
The religion of Native Americans was dominated by rituals and belief in a spiritual connection with nature and these beliefs were reflected in the various symbols and pictograms they used such as the Family symbol. Native Indian symbols are still used as Tattoos and were used for a variety of reasons and depicted on numerous objects such as tepees, totem poles, musical instruments, clothes and War Paint. Indian Tribes also used their own colors for symbols, refer to
Color Meanings & Symbolism, and designs depending on the natural resources available to make Native American paint.  His belongings was decorated with art and included symbols depicting his achievements, acts of heroism, his various spirit guides or the most important events in his life and included the family symbol or pictogram. Every symbol used by an American Native Indian had meaning which can be accessed from Symbols and Meanings.

The Family Symbol

Family

  • The Family symbol of Native Americans
  • Meaning, symbolism and interpretation of the Family symbol
  • Interesting facts and info for kids and schools
  • Pictures, meanings, patterns and designs of symbols
  • Native American Family symbol meaning

Pictures and Videos of Native Americans
Family. Discover the vast selection of pictures which relate to the History of Native Americans and illustrate many symbols used by American Indians. The pictures show the clothing, war paint, weapons and decorations of various Native Indian tribes that can be used as a really useful educational history resource for kids and children of all ages. We have included pictures and videos to accompany the main topic of this section - Family. The videos enable fast access to the images, paintings and pictures together with information and many historical facts. All of the articles and pages can be accessed via the Native Indian Tribes Index - a great educational resource for kids.

 

Family - Teaching resource - Teachers - Kids - Native American Symbols - Indian Symbols - Symbolism - Symbolize - Interpretation - American Symbols and Designs - Indian - Meaning - Symbolism - Symbolize - Interpretation - Meanings - Info - Information - Kids - Pictures - Signs - Emblem - Icon - Pictogram - Pictograms - Children - Patterns - Designs - Homework - Picture Writing - Traditions - American Symbols - Reference - Tribes - Tribe - Guide - Tattoos - History - Writing - Signs - Pictographs - Indigenous - Ancient - Pictures - Pictures of American Symbols - Images- Emblem - Icon - Pictogram - Pictograms - Family - Written By Linda Alchin

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