Art and Identity

1. Art and Identity In Aboriginal Culture

2. Aboriginal Art • Instead of using letters and writing things downs art was used to document and remember important events • Important events could be battles, treaties, trades with other tribes, wars or hunting trips • Objects were decorated to document these events • Dreams could be drawn or painted onto the sides of tipi’s by skilled artists so they could be remembered • Tipis were painted upon with good deed the owner had done or religious symbols they felt were important to show on their homes • We will be focusing on the Plains people and the decoration or lack thereof on their Tipi’s

3. Designs and Decoration • These designs are more than pretty pictures • Tipi’s were decorated with geometric patterns, animal depictions or important symbols • They were decorated with strands of animal hair, beads, claws or fringe from animal hides • Could be coloured with dyes of fruits or berries.

4. Designs and Decoration • The bottom ring of the Tipi is the earth, some shapes may be rounded and they are hills some may be pointed and they are mountains • The middle section must include the spirit helpers of the owner or special events that have helped shaped the owner • The top sections represents the sky with the sun, moon and stars • Some Tipis may contain pictures of animals and these are of animal spirits that have come to help guide the family or owner of this Tipi

5. Examples: The Buffalo could be symbolizing a hunting trip they find meaningful The man on the horse appears to be wearing a headdress, a shield and a long arrow or other object that could be symbolizing a specific battle that was important or special event in their life

6. Examples: Shamans are religious creatures or chosen earth beings along with stars have been painted onto these Tipis Here is a picture that has been drawn of a group of Tipis they have animals painted or drawn onto the sides of them along with solid lines and shapes

7. Examples: