Meaning of the Mountain Range 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 Mountain Range symbol. Native American symbols are geometric portrayals of celestial bodies, natural phenomena and animal designs. The meaning of the Mountain Range symbol was to signify the geography of a particular area and an indication that a journey had been made across a mountain range.
The Meaning of the Mountain Range Symbol to the Navajo Tribe
The Navajo tribe first emerged about 3,000 years ago at a point now called La Platte Mountain in Colorado. The four mountains sacred to the Navajo tribe are La Platte Mountain, Mount Taylor, Navaho Mountain, and San Francisco Mountain and were visually identified by colors. The eastern mountains were white, the southern mountains were blue, the western mountains were yellow, and the northern mountains were black. The rise and fall of these mountains caused the alternation of day and night. When the white mountains rose it was day, when the yellow mountains rose it was twilight, the black mountains brought night, and the blue mountains brought dawn dawn.
The Mountain Range Symbol
Before the arrival of European traders and explorers, the Native Indians were relatively settled hunters and farmers. The introduction of the horse led to the Plains culture in the vast prairie region between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains. Plateau Indians such as the Nez Perce (see picture below) travelled across the Rocky Mountains to hunt buffalo on the Great Plains and then returned to their Plateau homeland in the winter to continue fishing in the great rivers. The Mountain range symbol would have been used to represent this type of journey.
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| Picture of a Plateau Indian - Nez Perce Tribe |
The Mountain Range Symbol - Meaning
There were so many tribes of Native American Indians it is only possible to generalise the most common meaning of the Mountain Range 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.
Native American Indians - Mountain Range Symbol
Native American Indians had a highly complex culture, especially those who lived on the Great Plains.
Their religion was dominated by rituals and belief in a spiritual connection with nature and these beliefs were reflected in the various symbols they used such as the Mountain Range symbol.
The clothes, tepees and all of 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.
Every symbol used by an American Native Indian had meaning which can be accessed from Symbols and Meanings.
The Mountain Range Symbol
Mountain Range
- The Mountain Range symbol of Native Americans
- Meaning, symbolism and interpretation of the Mountain Range symbol
- Interesting facts and info for kids and schools
- Pictures, meanings, patterns and designs of symbols
- Native American Mountain Range symbol meaning
Pictures and Videos of Native Americans
Mountain Range. 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 - Mountain Range. 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.