The Meaning Behind Indigenous Jewelry: Symbols, Stories & Traditions

• Posted on 29 May 2025
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Jewelry has long been an integral part of Indigenous cultures, transcending simple adornment to embody profound cultural, spiritual, and personal meanings. For First Nations communities, jewelry serves as a visual language, conveying stories, heritage, and beliefs passed down through generations. Whether a silver and turquoise necklace from the Southwest or a carved silver and gold bracelet from the Northwest, Indigenous jewelry provides a window into the heart of these cultures.

At Cheryl's Trading Post, we celebrate these timeless traditions through a curated collection of authentic Indigenous jewelry handcrafted by First Nations jewelry artists, honouring the artistry and symbolism behind each piece.

The Role of Jewelry in Indigenous Communities

In Indigenous communities, jewelry is more than aesthetic—it's deeply connected to identity, family, and spiritual beliefs. It symbolizes a connection to ancestors, the natural world, and the spirit realm. Each piece carries a story, with designs, materials, and techniques conveying power, protection, and tradition.

Jewelry is worn to mark life events, like coming-of-age ceremonies or weddings, and often symbolizes connections to specific animals, elements, or landmarks, offering strength and guidance. Many pieces are crafted as heirlooms, passed down through generations to carry wisdom, stories, and values.

Native American Jewelry of the Southwest

Native American jewelry of the Southwest is renowned for its use of silver, turquoise, and coral, reflecting the region's natural beauty. The Navajo, Zuni, and Hopi peoples each have unique styles and techniques.

• Silverwork and Turquoise: Silver jewelry and silversmithing is central to southwestern Indigenous identity visibly portraying culture. Turquoise, symbolizing a connection between the heavens and earth, is often incorporated into these pieces for its spiritual significance—protection, good fortune, and healing.
• Navajo Influence: Known for exceptional silverwork, the Navajo use repoussé (hammering silver into relief patterns) and engraving to create detailed designs, featuring geometric patterns and nature-inspired symbols of protection.
• Zuni Influence: The Zuni people are known for their inlay work, embedding small stones like turquoise and coral into silver to create intricate patterns. Their designs often feature animals like bears and eagles, symbolizing strength and spiritual guidance.
• Hopi Symbolism: Hopi jewelry incorporates symbolic motifs such as kachina spirits and spirals, representing the cyclical nature of life and the interconnectedness of past, present, and future.

Native American Jewelry of the Northwest Coast

The jewelry of the Northwest Coast Indigenous peoples—Coast Salish, Haida, Tlingit, Kwakwaka'wakw, and others—showcases exquisite craftsmanship and a variety of materials that carry deep cultural and spiritual significance, often reflecting relationships with the land, sea, and spirit world.

• Key Materials: Silver has become central to contemporary northwest coast Native jewelry. Gold, rarer and more precious, is typically reserved for heirloom pieces, symbolizing luxury and high social rank. Two tone silver and gold are often combined for added visual appeal while less expensive than solid gold. Copper, a traditional Indigenous symbol of wealth, remains central in ceremonial jewelry. Wood and bone, intricately carved, showcase the region's rich artistic heritage.
• Designs and Techniques: Silver is engraved and used to create intricate pieces like pendants, bracelets, earrings, and rings sometimes utilizing the repoussé and chasing technique to add depth and texture. Gold is often paired with silver to enhance the piece's prestige.
• Spiritual Symbols and Totems: Jewelry often features powerful animal totems like the raven, eagle, and whale. These animals are believed to embody spiritual powers that offer protection, guidance, and transformation. For example, the raven symbolizes transformation, while the eagle represents strength and vision.
• Haida and Tlingit Artistry: Haida argillite jewelry, crafted exclusively by Haida artists, features bold, graphic designs carved from a rare black slate found only in Skidegate, Haida Gwaii. This highly prized material has been used for generations to create pendants, sculptures, and ceremonial pieces. Contemporary artisan Tahltan/Tlingit jewelry artist Terrence Campbell continues to innovate, merging traditional Northwest Coast designs with Southwestern techniques to create truly unique jewelry.
• Richie Baker's Legacy: The late Richie Baker was a master Northwest Coast artist known for his innovative and highly detailed jewelry designs. His silver and gold pieces, often featuring intricate engraving and stone settings, reflect his lifelong passion for carving and metalwork. Cheryl's Trading Post is honoured to offer some of his exclusive designs, preserving his artistic legacy.

Indigenous Beadwork Jewelry

In many Indigenous traditions beadwork holds deep cultural significance, serving as more than just ornamentation—it is a form of storytelling, spiritual expression, and ancestral connection. For First Nations peoples, every bead, color, and pattern carries meaning, preserving histories and identities through intricate craftsmanship.

Handcrafted by skilled First Nations jewelry artists, beadwork jewelry features meticulously sewn patterns on necklaces, earrings, and bracelets, using materials such as glass, stone, bone, and shell. These elements are carefully chosen not only for their beauty but also for their symbolic significance. Patterns often represent natural elements like the earth, water, and sky or embody spiritual themes such as protection, strength, and healing. Floral designs, animals, and celestial motifs are commonly seen, reflecting a deep reverence for nature and tradition.

Whether worn in ceremonies or as part of daily life, Indigenous beadwork jewelry is a powerful expression of culture, identity, and resilience—each piece a testament to generations of artistry and storytelling.

Ammolite Jewelry: A Rare and Sacred Gemstone

Ammolite jewelry is a distinctly Canadian style of Indigenous jewelry, handcrafted by artists from the Blackfoot Confederacy in Southern Alberta. Ammolite is an incredibly rare gemstone formed from the fossilized shells of ammonites that went extinct over 70 million years ago. Found only in the traditional territories of the Kainai (Blood), Pikuni (Peigan), and Siksika (Blackfoot) peoples, it has deep cultural significance. Known as "Iniskim" in the Blackfoot language, the stone is believed to bring prosperity and good health.

Symbolism and Personal Connection

Each piece of Indigenous jewelry carries a message. Whether it's the vibrant turquoise stones of the Southwest or the spiritual totems of the Northwest, jewelry is a reflection of the wearer's connection to their ancestors, environment, and personal journey.

In Southwest jewelry, turquoise symbolizes protection, while animals like the raven and eagle in Northwest Coast jewelry offer spiritual strength. Many pieces feature geometric patterns or animal symbols, which celebrate the wearer's heritage and serve as reminders of the natural world's influence on spiritual and everyday life.

Conclusion

The artistry behind Native American jewelry goes beyond decoration—it tells stories, honors traditions, and connects wearers to their cultural and spiritual heritage. Whether you're drawn to silver and turquoise from the Southwest, the rare beauty of ammolite, the intricate carvings of Haida argillite, or engraved silver and gold jewelry each piece embodies the beauty and significance of Indigenous artistry.

At Cheryl's Trading Post, we are proud to offer a curated collection of authentic Native American jewelry that supports Indigenous artisans and preserves these rich traditions. Discover a piece of history and culture today, and wear the stories of the land, animals, and spirit world.