The Raccoon 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 Raccoon symbol. The origin of the Raccoon symbol derives from the ancient Mississippian culture of the Mound Builders of North America and were major elements in the Southeastern Ceremonial Complex of American prehistory (S.E.C.C.). Some of the Siouan Indian tribes still retain some elements of the Mississippi culture and the legend of Raccoon. Their sacred rites, myths and symbols and are presumed to descend from the Mississippians. According to Abenaki mythology, Azeban is a benign trickster Raccoon - refer to Tricksters. For additional information please refer to the Meanings of Animal Symbols.
The Meaning of the Raccoon Symbol to Native Americans
The Raccoon symbol was seen as a magical icon as it was perceived to be an expert at disguise and secrecy. It wears masks for a variety of purposes and is able to disguise and transform itself. The masked face and ringed tale are the most distinctive part of their appearance. Abenaki mythology tells of a foolish, but benign, trickster raccoon called Azeban who is always looking for food. In other tribes the raccoon symbolizes curiosity, adaptability and resourcefulness.
The Meaning of the Raccoon Symbol of the Mound Builders
The Raccoon symbol featured strongly in the Mississippian culture. The Mississippians believed that the universe consisted of three parts with good and bad spiritual forces. These three worlds were linked together and their connection was usually portrayed as a cedar tree or a striped pole. The Underworld was inhabited by spirit snakes, the Upper world was inhabited by spirit birds and the people of the earth who were influenced by these powerful spirits like the Raccoon. In the following picture the raccoon symbol is situated at the top of the striped pole indicating their residence in on earth (the Middle world). The Striped Pole Motif represent the central axis on which all the worlds rotated and were connected. It would have had alternating bands of red and white. The striped pole forms part of a cross symbolizing the earth's forces, their origin and the manner in which they work. In the following picture it was augmented with raccoon skins and tails. Our grasp of Mississippian symbolism is only rudimentary. The true meanings of their motifs can never really be known and the meanings of the symbols are based on best guesses. Our conclusion and best guess is that this Mississippian Raccoon symbol was deemed to be important because of the distinctive masked face of the raccoon. The Mississippians used dances, gestures and sounds as symbolic powers and wore masks as they were believed to hold spiritual powers that never left them and that the masks would identify them with the spirits and activate their power.
The Raccoon Symbol - Mississippian culture
The most ancient Native American Indian symbols, like the Raccoon symbol, came from the Mississippian culture which was established in 1000AD and continued to 1550AD onward. The Mississippian Native Americans were the last of the mound-building cultures of North America in the Midwestern, Eastern, and Southeastern United States. The Mississippian culture was based on warfare, which was represented by an array of emblems, motifs and symbols. The Mississippian culture Raccoon icons like the Raccoon symbol provides interesting history and ideas for tattoos that include cosmic imagery depicting animals, humans and Mythical beasts, creatures and monsters. The Mississippian Native Americans practiced body painting, tattooing and piercing.
Shaman ritually vomiting Black drink
Attribution: Herb Roe |
Native American Indians - Raccoon Symbol
Native American Indians of the Mississippian culture were sun worshipers and had a highly complex warfare culture. Their symbols, such as the Raccoon symbol, reflect the warfare culture and the religious beliefs and cosmologies of the different historic tribes who existed at the time of the first European contact.
Items displaying symbols, like the Raccoon symbol, from the Mississippian culture have been found in burial sites that contained war axes, knives and other weapons. This type of symbol was embossed in valuable materials such as rare shells, copper and lead and depicted on pottery and stone tools and weapons.
Raccoon Symbol
Raccoon
- The Raccoon symbol of Native Americans
- Meaning, symbolism and interpretation of the Raccoon symbol
- Interesting facts and info for kids and schools
- Pictures, meanings, patterns and designs of symbols
- Native American Raccoon symbol meaning
Pictures and Videos of Native Americans
Raccoon. 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 - Raccoon. 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 Horned educational resource for kids.
