The Native Spirit Center is pleased to display the “Forest County Potawatomi”
flag and tell its story.
The Flag
The flag of the Forest County Potawatomi emphasizes this traditional
role. The flag is white. It bears the seal of the Tribe in the center.
That seal is composed of a medicine wheel also called the circle of
life. That wheel is subdivided into four quadrants, four being a sacred
number to most Native peoples in North America. The upper left quadrant
is black which represents the end of life and the direction, West. The
upper right quadrant is white and stands for North and hibernation or
dormancy. The lower left is red for South and rebirth or rejuvenation
and lastly the lower right is yellow for the East and new life. These
four colors are frequently associated with the four seasons and the four
races of mankind as well.
Overlaying the circle of life is a gray outline image of a warrior
tending a campfire - thus the "Keeper of the Sacred Fire". Hanging from
the circle are three eagle feathers depicted in black and white.
Forming a semi-circle over the tribal seal ins the name "Forest County
Potawatomi Nation" in black letters. Underlining the seal is the
sobriquet "Keeper of the Fire" also in black.
The Band
Forest County Potawatomi - Wisconsin
Nearly 1,000 members strong, the Forest County Potawatomi possess a
12,000-acre reservation in northern Wisconsin near the border with the
Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The Tribe was formed in 1913 and received
Federal recognition in 1937.
As with nearly all contemporary Potawatomi across the country, the
Forest County Potawatomi celebrate their ancestral role as the "Keepers
of the Sacred Fire". Long ago the Ojibwe (Chippewa), the Ottawa and the
Potawatomi were united. The Ojibwe were the "Keepers of the Faith", the
Ottawa were the "Keepers of the Trade" and to the Potawatomi came the
duty of maintaining the fire around which the Tribes would assemble.
The Native Spirit Center is pleased to display the “Aroostook” flag and tell
its story.
The Flag
Given the dispersed locations and traditional mobility of the Micmac, it is
not surprising that the overall feature of the Aroostook Band flag stresses -
by means of two circular design features - the unity-in-diversity theme that
also dominates the Micmac flag. In fact, it differs from the latter in only two
important features: (a) the addition of the logo of the Micmac Council in the
upper portion of the central red stripe, and (b) its 3:6 feet dimensions, which
are in the same 1:2 ratio of width-to-length as the Canadian Maple Leaf.
The richly symbolic logo of the Elders' Council starts with a black circular
outline, signifying the Unity of the Micmac People. The upper part of the
circle is divided into two quarters by a black vertical Band punctuated by four
yellow disks, which honor the four women of the Band (or Tribe), all Micmac
Mothers, who promoted the advancement of the Micmac. The upper left quarter
shows two black bear claws on a white background, symbolizing strength and the
readiness to provide assistance. A black deer looking toward the right stands
in upper right quarter on a white background. It represents the gratitude the
Micmac feel toward this animal that provides vital assistance to the community
with both clothing and food.
Separating the upper from the lower portions of the circle, a center band
celebrates the original members of the Aroostook Council. There were five women
(white inverted wigwams) and four men (black upright tepees with yellow
outlines), each with his or her own household, who still oversee Tribal
business and work together for the welfare of the Band community.
The black triangle in the lower half of the circle stands for the wigwam of
the Council's lodge. Inside this triangle, a small white triangle marks the
entrance to the wigwam, and three white disks honor the three original women
sachems, or Council members. It is important to note that this triangle, topped
by the middle black teepee in the central band, forms the Arrow of Peace -
symbol of the arrows used by Micmac hunters to gather sustenance and by Micmac
warriors to defend the Band against enemies. Framing the lower half of the
circular logo are seven eagle feathers, which represent seven future
generations of the Micmac and the seven districts of the Micmac Nation.
One element whose head remains invisible, though its wings and lower body
are suggested by the central band and the lower black and white triangles, is
the Invisible Thunderbird, representing Strength and Wisdom.
The Band
Aroostook Band of Micmac - Maine
The Micmac of the Aroostook Band, federally recognized since 26 November
1991, trace their ancestry to some 28 Micmac communities in the
Maritime Provinces of Canada (New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia,
Prince Edward Island, Quebec). Traditionally the Micmac have been a
highly mobile society, and the 28 Canadian communities mirror the
far-flung Micmac settlements throughout New England states. The Boston,
Mass., area alone, for instance, is home to some 4000 people of Micmac
origin. The headquarters for the approximately 800 members living in the
United States is on a 17-acre trust land on Presque Isle, within
Aroostook County in northern Maine, a scant ten minutes' drive from the
Canadian border. The Aroostook Band, which also owns parcels of land
throughout the County, represents all Micmac in the Unites States.
The Native Spirit Center is pleased to display the “Crow Nation” flag and
tell its story.
The Flag
The flag of the Crow Tribe is light blue and bears their tribal seal in the center. This is one of only a half dozen flags originally reported by Dr. Whitney Smith in his "Flag Book of the United States". Like two others, the Cherokee and the Seminole, the current flag differs from the one reported some 25 years ago. The current seal bears much symbolism, starting at the bottom with the peace pipe.
The pipe was traditionally offered as a first placating step in any significant petition of the Crow people, an offer not to be refused by mortals. Above it is the "Sacred Medicine Bundle" (See also the Cheyenne River Sioux). This bundle contains sacred tobacco seeds, tobacco being the only significant crop of the Crow. These particular seeds are believed to be the original and supernatural blessing of the Crow that led them to their present home (Lloyd Old Coyote, "Crow Tribal Emblem, pamphlet, undated). Next in line is a "sweat lodge" a place of purification for both mind and body and a practice frequently employed prior to any major undertaking by the Crow (Note this use of the sweat lodge is widespread throughout Indians from the Northeast all the way to the southwest). The perfectly symmetrical teepee represents the values of a good home and the home of the Crow (ibid.). Behind the teepee are three mountain ranges, the Wolf Mountains, the Big Horn Mountains and the Pryor Mountains. The rays of the sun represent 12 of the original thirteen clans of the Crow. The thirteenth, the "Greasy Mouth" clan, commonly referred to as the sun worshipers, is represented by the sun itself (Frederick Turnsback, Director of Procurement, Crow Nation, letter dated Nov.15, 1994). To either side is a Crow war bonnet, originally the one to the viewers left was larger, but modern versions tend to have both headdresses identical in size. One represents the clan chiefs on the mother's side, the other the clan chiefs on the father's side. Both lend guidance, inspiration and protection to all tribal members.
The changes in the flag over the last thirty years? They are slight. In the current flag there is a definite heavy black border separating the seal from the field of the flag, this being an artistic license not mandated by the official description. At the base of the seal that appeared in Dr. Smith's book (FBUS, 258) was a single white star at the base of the seal; this is now gone. The four lodge poles which represented the four seasons and four winds in Lloyd Old Coyote's design are now missing(but should be present) and lastly, the "Big Dipper" constellation which symbolized the "carrier of messages" has been removed. Despite its changes, the flag of the Crow continues to be one of the most striking examples of Native American flags.
Yet another flag is closely associated with the Crow Nation, that of Chief Plenty Coups. Plenty Coups was a realistic and intelligent member of the Tribe and he quickly rose to the rank of chief, emerging as a leader whose forceful advocacy of change brought him fame in the world and made him a figure of controversy among his own people. Enemy tribes such as the Sioux and Cheyenne surrounded the Crow in the 1880s. To ensure the safety of his people, Chief Plenty Coups allied his people with the white traders and the U.S. military. The Crow provided scouts for the U.S. cavalry and fought in some battles along side them. As a symbol of the gratitude the military had for the support of Plenty Coups and the Crow, he was awarded a special personal flag.
The flag was based upon the military flags employed by the U.S. Army in the late 1800s, but with a red background. It also bore his name in white capital letters below the seal of the United States. This is one of the few examples of native leaders employing flags in the 19th century and only one of two (the other being the Paiute chief, Winnemucca) such flags awarded to them by the United States government or its agents.
The Band
Crow Nation - Montana
In their own language, the Crow Tribe of southeastern Montana call themselves Absaroka, or the "bird people". To the early French explorers and voyageurs, the Crow were called the "handsome men" because of their beautifully worked garments and the long flowing black hair that sometimes reached all the way to the ground. The name "Crow" came from crudely translating the term "Absaroka" into "Crow people" instead of "bird people" (ENAT, 76-78).
