The Bird Track Symbol

Native American Indians were a deeply spiritual people and they communicated their history, thoughts, ideas and dreams from generation to generation through Symbols and Signs such as the Bird Track symbol. Native American symbols are geometric portrayals of celestial bodies, natural phenomena and animal designs. A bird symbolised light-hearted freedom. Bird feathers have many spiritual & ritual uses. The tracks of any animal or bird were used to indicate a direction. Native American bird and animal symbols and totems are believed to represent the physical form of a spirit helper and guide. The meaning of the Bird Track symbol was to signify the presence of birds, especially wild turkeys in the area and indicate where they could be found, or the direction they were taking. The meaning of the Bird Track symbol was to signify a good omen and convey authority. The following picture taken from a ledger pictogram drawing, dated 1875, depicts mounted hunters pursuing a deer, having flushed a turkey and chicks from cover. Wild turkeys once roamed over 39 states. The Indians usually captured them by using traps and nets. The pole trap consisted of 5-8 poles stacked on four sides which was covered with a net. A trench was dug under one side of the trap which was baited with corn.

Meaning

There were so many tribes of Native American Indians it is only possible to generalise the most common meaning of the Bird Track symbol or pattern. Native Indian symbols are still used as Tattoos and were used for a variety of reasons and depicted on numerous objects such as tepees, totem poles, musical instruments, clothes and War Paint. Indian Tribes also used their own Colors for Symbols and designs depending on the natural resources available to make Native American paint. For additional information please refer to the Meanings of Bird Symbols.

Bird track symbol

Native American Indians had a highly complex culture, especially those who lived on the Great Plains.

Their religion was dominated by rituals and belief in a spiritual connection with nature and these beliefs were reflected in the various symbols they used such as the Bird Track symbol which was especially relevant to the Southwest tribes who hunted wild turkeys.

The clothes, tepees and all of his belongings was decorated with art and included symbols depicting his achievements, acts of heroism, his various spirit guides or the most important events in his life. Every symbol used by an American Native Indian had meaning which can be accessed from Symbols and Meanings.