Swastica style markings on womans headband.

[maxclint]

reading through Joseph Agonitos book, "Lakota Portraits", I was surprised to see a photo titled "Rosebud Yellow Robe" . a young woman wearing a headband with a row of swastica style symbols. I have never seen this style before and wonder if this was common and was there any specific meaning to the design. I know that these type of symbols were used by several cultures {non indian}. but did not realize that the Lakota used them. hope someone can enliten me, thank you.

[nicolas (carlo)]

Hi maxclint,
The swastika symbol is a well known symbol among the Hopi, and possibly among other tribes near them. It represents the Earth and Sun if I recall correctly, and has other religious connotations as well. However, to my knowledge, the swastika was/is not part of Lakota symbolism or associated with any of the plains tribes, so the headband may have come from one of the southern desert tribes, or a studio prop. The photo seems to have been taken in the late 1920s, when accuracy in portraying native americans wearing their own traditional clothes was not a big concern. (As can be seen on the wikipedia page for her, she was herself not too concerned with that either, as evidenced by the photo of her in a non-native garment, wearing a (gasp!) war bonnet.)
Carlo

[waganari]

William Neptune, Indian tribe chief of Passamaquoddy, photo 1920.


Chief Wrinkled Meat (aka John Smith) of the Chippewa

[ladonna]

it represents the four direction

[gregor]

Here is more on Swastikas : en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika
The sign has been used over 3.000 years in different cultures.
The earliest swastika known has been found in Mezine, Ukraine.
It is carved on late paleolithic figurine of mammoth ivory.

[maxclint]

Thank you all for your replies. the photo was taken in 1927, so the headband was probably a prop. I did not think it was Lakota. thank you all again.

[rageofreason]

Big Dipper swastika:

[maxclint]

Thank you rageofreason, a very powerful image.I suppose with the history of this symbol and its affect on the history of mankind, a bigger picture has to be acknowledged.

[hreinn]

rageofreason, this picture says more than 1000 words !
Very descriptive picture.

[windscythe]

swastika is a union of square and circle