Pueblo of Zuni
- Fri, Nov 12 2021
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The seal (provided by the Zuni Tribal Headquarters) is a gray circle topped by an elongated Kachina dancer with a rainbow arching between his chest and waist. Such dancers are involved in the rituals of the Indians of the Southwest, especially the Navajo, the Hopi, and the Zuni. Kachinas come in many visages, each bringing special meaning and powers. These dancers perform many different ceremonies, including those to bless a family's home, to seek a good harvest or to give thanks for one, to implore the Great Spirit for rain, and to heal the sick. While Kachina dancing is a very popular tourist attraction for many tribes, it retains its importance as a religious ritual.
The center of the seal shows a bowl bearing several fetishes and a necklace of fine Zuni silver work and turquoise. These items are below a pair of flat-topped mesas common to the lands of the Zuni. At the base of the seal are six dark blue four-pointed stars for the six members of the tribal council. The bottom border is a common stepped-design motif of southwestern Indians in red and recalls the shape of the traditional pueblo.
Learn more about the Pueblo of Zuni: http://www.ashiwi.org/.