Indian Signs and SignalsPhotographs and text describe more than 800 signs used by the nomadic tribes of the Great Plains to communicate with each other. |
Common terms and phrases
ake the sign Arapaho Arikara bison Blackfoot blanket chest level Cheyenne Extend the right fingers closed fingers spread fingertips forearm forehead George Catlin gesture Gros Ventre hand forward hand horizontally hand in front Hidatsa Hold both hands Hold the hands Hold the left Hold the right incomplete circle index and middle index finger extended index fingers pointing indicate Kiowa left hand open left index finger left palm left side little finger Lower the hands Mandan middle fingers motion move the hand move the right paint palm turned palms facing Pawnee person addressed Place the right Plains Indians Point the right pretend raise the hand raise the right right fingers right index finger right side right thumb shoulder level sign for bird sign for horse sign for tree sign for water signs for heart signs for Paleface slowly succession the signs symbolize tepee thumb and index tips tribes wrist