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Bits The need to control horses in warfare has driven extensive innovation in the design of bits and spurs, producing a variety of styles over the centuries.  As early as 3000 BC, bits were made of rope, bone, horn or...

Totem poles are a Northwest art form most commonly carved of Western red cedar by the indigenous tribes of the Pacific Northwest coast. The word “totem” is derived from the Algonquian word Odoodem, meaning “kinship group.” The carvings symbolize ancestors,...

Examples of bone and antler awls have been found coast to coast dating back to the late archaic period between 2400 and 2000 BC.  Native Americans used them in lieu of a sewing needle to create a hole in which...

Natural dyes and hand-spun wool were used by Navajo weavers until the 1870s.  At that time, aniline dyes were introduced, replacing the natural dyes.  As commercial traders began the serious marketing of the Navajo weavings both in California and the...

Fetish amulets were used by Native American peoples from the coast, mountain, desert and plains regions.  Most animal fetishes were umbilical cord containers, while others were talismans worn as personal protection.  The fetishes were usually made by the mother or...

A boot jack is a handy contraption for hands-free removal of boots. It consists of a V or U-shaped mouth that grips the heel of the boot and a flat tang on which the other foot is placed for weight and...