Native American Crafts

Native Americans are long known for their beautiful arts, crafts and handiwork. These unique products are steeped in the history of each tribe from which they originate. Some Native American arts and crafts include jewelry, basket making, drums, clothing, decor and masks.

National Museum of the American Indian: The museum features one of the most comprehensive permanent collections of Native American arts and artifacts in the world. Approximately 825,000 items covering over 12,000 years of history and representative of more than 1,200 indigenous cultures throughout North and South America are included.

American Indian Jewelry: Discusses and depicts various tribal styles of jewelry making and designs. Classic motifs such as the squash blossom are discussed. Links are offered to sites with authentic Native American jewelry for sale.

Native American Basketry: Site discusses techniques and traditions of various basket forms such as coiled, wood splint and sweetgrass. Slideshow and games are featured.

Indian Rawhide Drum Making: Montana Arts Council page discusses history and process of drum making and how to incorporate this information into a classroom lesson plan.

Making a Native American Drum: A Boy's Life Article with step by step instructions.

Native Tech: Features map with links to native clothing photos and pictorials listed by region and linked by tribe.

Native American Masks: Information about the history of masks including links to collections of masks and to artists who make Native American masks are featured here.

Many imitators began copying the designs of true Native Americans and trying to pawn them off as authentic when they were not. Thankfully legislators have dissuaded this practice by enacting The Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 which prohibits misrepresentation of Indian arts and crafts in the United States.