Our hairstyle and ornamentation are guided by the values of our family and tribe. It is a form of creative self-expression that reinforces our connection to our family, tribe, and Creation. Some tribes will use two braids, while others will use three.
It embodied the idea of harmony between individuals, tribes, and the natural world. Native American societies, particularly in the Plateau region, placed a high premium on collective well-being, cooperation, and unity, and this hairstyle was a reflection of those principles.
Many Native Americans having long hair is a symbol of tribal religious traditions which teach that hair is only to be cut when one is in mourning for the death of a close relative. Its a sign of respect and of mourning. Its a sacrifice done to allow the living person to let the loved one go.
Feathers are widely believed among North American Indians to signify the connection between The Creator, the owner of the feather, and the bird from whom the feather came. Deeply revered, the feather symbolizes high honor, power, wisdom, trust, strength, and freedom.
braids are a symbol of strength and wisdom, and they reflect our identity as indigenous peoples. I wear my braid. to show people that I'm proud of who I am, and also to honor my ancestors. I was teased and bullied because I had long hair, and I was also called a girl sometimes. but I wanna show boys and men.
Braiding was and still is an important cultural tradition among many Indigenous American tribes. While each tribe has its own relationship to braids, many see braiding as a spiritual act, with the three strands representing the body, mind and spirit.
A gene variation of EDAR that arose about 30,000 years ago seems to give some people thicker strands of hair. More than 90% of Han Chinese, 70% of Japanese and Thai people, and 60% to 90% of Native Americans carry the "thick hair strand" version of the EDAR gene.
For thousands of years, male members of our tribe have worn their hair long. It is our spiritual belief that a person's hair is a part of the spirit of the person.
1. The Medicine Wheel. The Medicine Wheel, a powerful symbol found in many Native American cultures, represents the interconnection of all aspects of life. It symbolizes harmony, balance, and the cyclical nature of existence.
All Indians are subject to federal income taxes. As sovereign entities, tribal governments have the power to levy taxes on reservation lands. Some tribes do and some don't. As a result, Indians and non-Indians may or may not pay sales taxes on goods and services purchased on the reservation depending on the tribe.
Many Indigenous people believe that one should never whistle at night. This belief takes many forms: for instance, Native Hawaiians believe it summons the Hukai'po, the spirits of ancient warriors, and Native Mexicans say it calls Lechuza, a witch that can transform into an owl.
It is considered an event of great auspiciousness. Conventionally, a Hindu girl never has her hair cut after the first haircut, which generally happens at the age of 11 months. Therefore, the first haircut for the girl is very important because that is the only time they do.
Many African groups braided hair to identify with their tribe. Braids indicated wealth, marital status, power, and religion. Slaves used braids to communicate escape routes. White slaveholders forced slaves to shave their head and keep a “tidy” appearance.
Touching someone's hair without permission is disrespectful in the Native community. Some even find that asking permission is a form of disrespect, especially with children and elders. This is not something to take personal, it's our way of protecting ourselves from the energy of someone we know nothing about.
In 1832 the U.S. Congress passed legislation banning the sale of alcoholic beverages to Indian people. That legislation was repealed in 1953, and tribes were given the option of retaining prohibition or allowing the sale and consumption of alcohol on reservations.
“Braiding started in Africa with the Himba people of Namibia,” says Pace. “These people have been braiding their hair for centuries. In many African tribes, braided hairstyles were a unique way to identify each tribe.
The Native Indian symbol of a broken arrow stands for peace. The broken arrow shows that the war is over, bows and arrows are being put down, and weapons are no longer needed because peace has come.
The first traces the rise and fall of the Comanches, the most powerful Indian tribe in American history.
The Meaning of the Feather
For Native Americans, feathers represent a rich spiritual and cultural heritage. They serve as powerful conduits for prayer, healing, and divine connection. When a feather falls to the earth, it is considered a sacred gift from the sky and the Creator, carrying the bird's energy and purpose.
The turquoise, with its blue/green colour, is linked with both sky and water. All Navajo babies receive a string of turquoise beads at birth and the stone is used at other significant life milestones, such as puberty, marriage and death, since turquoise is associated with healing and protection.
As part of revering the dead, their possessions - including favorite horses - were buried with them, and were sometimes killed on-the-spot as sacrifices for the deceased, with the quantity of buried possessions being congruent with their status.
This article stated that “If an owl feather floats through the air or is seen on the ground, Navajo legend demands that it be avoided at all cost, for the owl is the symbol of death. An owl feather brings bad luck.” It also mentions a general avoidance of snakes and other reptiles by mostly Diné (Navajo) visitors.
Asian hair is the thickest, with a larger diameter of about 70 µm. Caucasian hair has an average diameter of 65 µm, and African hair is the finest, with a diameter of 55 µm. The cross-section of Asian hair is the most round and uniform, Caucasian hair has an elliptical shape, and African hair has a flattened shape.
The researchers combed through genetic information from men and women in Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Mexico and Peru, with a combination of European, Native American and African ancestry. The gene variant predisposing people to early hair graying was essentially only seen in those of European ancestry.
Why Thanksgiving Is Also a National Native Day of Mourning. It's important to know that for many Native Americans, Thanksgiving is a day of mourning and protest since it commemorates the arrival of settlers in North America and the centuries of oppression and genocide that followed.