Indian Flag

The American Flag embodies many Native American Indian symbols and imagery. This is directly related to the Native American people being the first to inhabit this country's land. Massachusetts and Oklahoma are the two states that have Native American flags; Grand Forks, North Dakota's city flag exhibits Native American symbolism.

The State Indian flag for Massachusetts displays a Native American on a shield from the Algonquin Tribe dressed in traditional Indian dress. He is shown as a Native American Indian carrying a bow and arrow with the arrow pointing downward; this represents peace for their people. The star located on the Indian flag represents Massachusetts as being one of the original colonies of the Americas. The blue ribbon, which is located on the bottom of the shield, signifies the Blue Hills Reservation, located in Massachusetts. There are Latin words inscribed on the shield meaning, "By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under Liberty". History tells us the Massachusetts Indian flag has been used since the American Revolution. This flag is the same for the Governor of Massachusetts with the exception of the shape of the flag being a triangular pennant.

The other Native American Indian flag still in use today is used by Oklahoma as their State Flag. The Oklahoma State Flag displays a Buffalo skin shield against a blue background and is from the Osage Nation; surrounding the shield are seven eagle feathers. There are two symbols of peace on the shield; one being the Peace Pipe and the other an Olive branch. The Peace Pipe represents Native American tribes and the olive branch represent Caucasian settlers. The symbolism of the two peace emblems was a wonderful representation of the unity and peace treaties that were enacted by the Oklahoma government and the Native Americans.