The Butterfly in Native American Art
Butterflies are depicted in numerous forms of Native American art, including jewelry, pottery, carvings, song, paintings, and petroglyphs. What do these beautiful winged beings represent? There are numerous ways the symbol of the butterfly can be interpreted. Native American cultures are diverse—there are over 500 federally recognized tribes in the U.S. alone—so butterfly symbolism can vary greatly between regions and communities. Below are various meanings of the butterfly that we have learned from Southwest Native American artists.
- Perhaps the most foundational understanding of the butterfly is its seasonal presence. The first butterflies signal the arrival of spring and acknowledge that people have survived another difficult winter season. For this reason, the butterflies are seen as good omens and positive beings in life.
- Among the Hopi, the Butterfly Maiden (Palhik Mana) is a Kachina spirit associated with spring, fertility, and renewal.
- Among the Zuni, the butterfly represents the beauty of summer, when the land abounds in flowers and in plants. This depiction connects the butterfly with joy, beauty, and freedom.
- Like in many cultures around the world, the butterfly often represents personal transformation, rebirth, and the cycle of life due to its metamorphosis from caterpillar to butterfly.
- In some Southwest Native American cultures, butterflies also embody the important concepts of “centering and balance.”
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