material culture perspectives

The term material culture refers to the items that people have and created to express who they are. There is no term in native languages for art or craft work, the closest the terms can come to is “the things we make or the things that we make beautiful”. Often the clothing that people wore or the articles they made and used like weapons, baskets, pipe bags etc always said in mnuemonic form who they were, culturally, socialy, spiritualy and even what temperament they had. These old timers did not say ” well it’s time to make some indian arts and crafts” it was the things they made and needed in order to make life easier. All items that we make are cultural markers. The best example that I can use here is the tattoo of 3 arrows,it tells those who know it when they see it who we are. Best to all,Tom.