Native American Medicine Shields

Rachel ThomasSpring 2010

Native American “Medicine”

• Like us, the Native Americans thought of medicine as something that could heal a person.

• But to them, this healing power was more magical and spiritual.

• “Medicine” wasn’t a pill or ointment – it was a magical object or belief.

Medicine Shields• A medicine shield was believed to

have magical healing and protective powers – or, “MEDICINE”!

• A medicine shield was believed to have magical healing and protective powers – or, “MEDICINE”!

• They also had physical purposes – like to protect a warrior from arrows and other weapons during battle.

How they were made…

• It took a lot of work to make a medicine shield! To make one, a person had to…

– Hunt for an animal using homemade tools

– Skin the animal then turn the skin into leather (hide)

– Cut down wood, trim it, soak it, and eventually shape it into a hoop

– Stretch the tanned leather hide over the hoop

– Use feathers from birds and homemade beads and dyes to decorate their shields

• All in all, A LOT OF WORK!

Real Medicine Shields