Dance Hall of the Dead (1973)

Dance Hall of the Dead (1973)

Volkswagen

An automobile produced by the German company Volkswagen AG. The company was founded in 1937 by the German government and was originally run by the Nazi organization German Labour Front. The original factory was destroyed during World War II, before it could begin production. Following the end of the war, the factory was rebuilt and Volkswagen began to produce cars once more. However, it was not until the late 1950’s that these cars became popular in the U.S., with the introduction of the Volkswagen Beetle.

sheepskin

Also called shearling, a sheep's cured hide with the wool still attached.

.30-06 deer rifle

The Remington Model 700, a centerfire bolt action rifle which began production in 1962. The most popular types of ammunition for this rifle are the .30-60 Springfield cartridge, 7mm Remington Magnum rifle cartridge, and the .270 Winchester cartridge.

bead

Typically a small, often rounded object with a hole bored through the center through which a length of fiber, sinew, or gut can be threaded. Beads are formed from stone, bone, seeds, animal quills, and petrified wood as well as more exotic materials such as semi-precious stones, metals, clay, shells, and glass. A variety of beads were used as items of trade among many traditional societies, as they have been used in the production of jewelry and decorated clothing items.

Many Native American tribes in the United States have their distinctive connections to beads and beading. The beading of clothing, baskets, and ceremonial costumes and headdresses is held as a sacred tradition in many tribal communities. Much of this handiwork is very labor-intensive and learning to bead is an important and cherished tradition. Inside and outside tribal communities, beadwork is often viewed as art.

Bead can also refer to the little bead-sized bump used to help sight, or aim, a firing arm. The bead is typically found at the firing end of a gun or rifle barrel.

badger

The badger is known for its strength, perseverance, and ferocity. A burrowing animal with large claws for digging and the ability to navigate underground, the badger is often associated with profound knowledge, insight, and the wisdom that emerges from deep introspection. It is also affiliated with the cardinal direction south. Because of its association with strength and mystical insight, for a human to be affiliated with the badger is a sign of prestige, power, and protection.

arrow

A flying projectile shot using a bow, a curved piece of wood held in tension by string, gut, or plastic tied between the two ends. Traditionally, an arrow consists of a straight shaft, made of wood, with a stone “arrow head” projectile point attached on the front. Additionally, the back of the shaft is hafted (indented) and covered with feathers to facilitate the flight and direction of the arrow once it is shot. The bow and arrow are primarily used for hunting and the use of this weapon in the Four Corner’s region began during the end of the Basketmaker time period (A.D. 300-800).

Because of the important advantages that the arrow gave to those peoples who mastered their manufacture and use, the arrow also gained symbolic value. Worked onto the surfaces of ceramics and into textiles and sandpaintings, arrows can represent strength, virility, defense, protection, and courage.

fraternity

In Puebloan culture, fraternities are associated with "medicine," curative powers, and the ability to conjure or control natural phenomena to benefit the health of individuals or the community. In this sense, members of fraternities can be considered traditional, ceremonial, spiritual, and biological healers, who acquired their specific knowledges, traditions, and ceremonies from kachina (spirits) over time. These different knowledges and ceremonials are carefully guarded and maintained by the different fraternities, but their effects are shared broadly throughout the pueblo to benefit the community.

In the Pueblo tradition, one is born into a clan, and that clan may historically associate itself with a specific kiva society, but fraternities transcend the more static social associations of clans and kivas. It is typical for one who has benefited from a fraternal healing to petition to join that fraternity; in part, the specialized knowledge of that healing has been imparted to its benefactor through his or her experience. Many fraternities, therefore, are open to men and women. In addition, one can move between fraternities, or belong to several at once. With their discrete specializations, fraternal participation in the life of the pueblo occurs on almost daily occurrences, as needed. Kiva society ceremonials, on the other hand, tend to have annual cycles, and rather than focusing on treating the symptoms of an individual, they work to maintain natural equilibrium and universal balance.

tallow

A natural material consisting of the processed fat of cattle, sheep, or horses. (The rendered fat from pigs is called lard.) Tallow, or suet, as it is also called, may be used to make candles, soap, and lubricant.

crow

A large, black bird from the genus Corvus, which also includes ravens and jackdaws. Crows are omnivorous birds that consume carrion (dead animal flesh), berries, and insects. Crows are also one of the most intelligent and social animals on the planet, having the ability to form and use tools, engage in sports, and demonstrate the ability to recognize individual facial features and expressions in humans.

Because crows are found on almost every continent, they have a place in many cultural traditions around the world. In some versions of the Navajo tradition, for example, crows are considered dangerous because they eat the flesh of dead animals, which is taboo. On the other had, the ancient Greeks believed that crows could tell the future. In Tibetan Buddhism, the protector of the Dharma takes the form of a crow.

arrow head

More commonly spelled "arrowhead," archaeologists refer to arrowheads as projectile points. Arrowheads are prehistoric hafted (indented) pointed objects of worked stone that are generally attached to the end of an arrow or a spear. These points can be made from a range of raw lithic (stone) materials, including chert, obsidian, petrified wood, and occasionally bone.

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