From a physical point of view, colour is a mechanical wave that reflects off a given object. How we perceive colour will therefore depend on the length of the aforementioned wavelength of light, as well as the structure of our organ of vision. Light enters our eye and then, with the help of processes in our brain, becomes a specific colour. I will tell you more about colour at our exhibition "Into the light", to which you are already invited. However, due to my interests and the fact that I am studying Latin American Studies, this article goes beyond the physical framework and definitions of colour, focusing on Native American cosmology.
Ethnic groups in North America
The metaphysical aspect of colours and their perception on a spiritual and symbolic level is a phenomenon found in a great many ethnic and religious communities. This article will focus on the perception of colour among North American indigenous communities.
The discussion on the symbolism of colour among Native Americans should begin by highlighting the fact that this is an extremely heterogeneous group: according to statistical data, there are more than 500 indigenous ethnic groups in the USA, and as many as 630 in Canada. However, these communities have certain similarities, including in their perception of colour and its significance in daily life and beliefs.
Colours and their symbolism
First Nations societies, as we may call them, treat mortal life on a par with the afterlife. The visible and the invisible coexist, crossing each other's paths in almost every aspect of everyday life. This is exactly what happens with colours.
Black
The Lakotas, a group that once inhabited the American Great Plains, equate black with respect, honour and adulthood. Contrary to the belief of early colonisers, the colour black was not used to deter the enemy. A Lakota warrior was only allowed to paint his face black if he had earned it with exceptional achievements on the battlefield. Black is also the colour of the west wind, water and lightning, showing the intermingling of the physical and metaphysical worlds.
White
Kolor biały The colour white for the Cherokee tribe was a symbol of tranquillity and happiness, while the Lakotas saw it as great wisdom and the source of life.
Blue
Blue is the most powerful colour of all. The Lakotas identified it with the essence of the creation of everything, the beginning of existence. Therefore, water is an incredibly important element in the life of indigenous communities: it gives life and heals. Many tribes, for instance the Chitimachos living in the south-eastern states, associated the colour blue with the Great Spirit, the creator of the world.
Colours in the past and today
Resulting from historical circumstances, the situation of the Native Americans is diametrically opposed to that of pre-colonisation. Symbolism, the merging of the metaphysical with the physical and tradition are not as strongly rooted in the hearts of young representatives of Native communities. They are increasingly following the Western world, becoming an integral part of the American way of life and culture. Living in 2024, a descendant of the Lakota or Cherokee will wear a black t-shirt or green jumper without identifying it with particular spiritual sphere. The traditions of indigenous cultures are still being cultivated, but the modern world is constantly smothering them with its “goodies”.
A man of the Paunis tribe, George Catlin, 19th century, Smithsonian American Art Museum
A woman from the Canadian Kri tribe, George Catlin, 19th century, Smithsonian American Art Museum
Warrior from the Iowa tribe (Dakota tribe family), George Catlin, 19th century, Smithsonian American Art Museum
A woman from the Kri tribe, George Catlin, 19th century, Smithsonian American Art Museum
Author: Patrycja Gomola
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