Arts of the Plains Indian

Native Americans of the Great Plains, such as the Arapaho, Blackfoot, Crow, and Sioux made use of the buffalo skin, both rawhide and tanned, which was used for clothing, containers, tepee covers, and shields.

Feather work was used for headdresses, capes, skirts and mantles in dance costumes and as decoration together with beads and trinkets.

Buffalo hide was not just made into plain everyday items; the people used elaborate decorations and designs to create an art form. Paintings, feathers, quills and trinkets among other things were added.

Although we know that Indians lived in this region in prehistoric times, they seem not to have been a dominant force until the horse gave them mobility, military strength, and economic support upon which cultural development could be based.

The Pomo, Nez-Percé, Paiute lived by gathering, hunting and fishing, they developed basketry using a great variety of materials.

Such items as baby carriers, collecting and winnowing baskets and fish weirs, hats, cooking and serving containers, and ceremonial gift baskets with religious significance were prominent.

Colour was no stranger to these artists; earth pigments were effective until the introduction of stronger powdered substances brought in by traders.

Buffalo hide also served as the artist’s canvas, upon which many designs were painted, by both men and women.

The great sculptural art of the Northwest Coast never had as wide an outlet here, owing largely to the absence of any forest growth sufficient to make such production possible.

Although sculpture is found in smaller objects, such as wooden bowls, effigies, and implements.

The availability of art resources in this region was limited, but with the combination of native talent and trade, it helped the people express their beliefs and passions into an art known around the world.

Arts - Crafts - Gifts - Posters

• Native Art Gallery. Learn about native american indian culture & traditions, American Indian languages, arts & crafts, and native american history from the tribal perspective. Current events, news, stories & issues of concern to native americans. Education for non-indians on cultures, beliefs & perspectives of the indigenous native americans of North America.
• Gallery Canada works directly with the Inuit artists of the Central Arctic and we offer a diverse range of stone carvings and sculptures, prints, paintings, jewelry and tapestries to satisfy the needs of all Inuit Art collectors as well as discriminating gift and corporate buyers.
• Posters and Prints on North American native art and culture can be viewed here, just type in your interest in the search box on this page.