Water Symbol

Meaning of the Water Symbol

Native American Indians were a deeply spiritual people and they communicated their history, thoughts, ideas and dreams from generation to generation through Symbols and Signs such as the Water symbol. Native American symbols are geometric portrayals of celestial bodies, natural phenomena and animal designs. The meaning of the Water symbols were very important as water in every form as one of the most vital elements for the sustenance of life. The meaning of the Water symbol was to signify life, fertility and purity. Some American Indian tribes believe that the waters of lakes, rivers, and oceans are inhabited by a mysterious people called the "Water Indians."

Meaning of the Water Symbol
The water symbol was used to indicate large stretches of water such as rivers and the ocean. Lakes were symbolized in a different way. The different forms that water might take symbolized different things. Running water was a symbol of the continuity of life and the on-going flow of time. Many Plateau Indians were reliant on rivers for their sustenance, as fish constituted their main source of food. The meaning of the water symbol was to signify the flow of life from the Earth and to chart the features of a particular area.

	Picture of a Plateau Indian - Nez Perce Tribe

The Water Symbol - Meaning
There were so many tribes of Native American Indians it is only possible to generalise the most common meaning of the Water symbol or pattern. 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 and designs depending on the natural resources available to make Native American paint.