Native American Deerskin, Shield etc where to buy?

Factual Questions
1

I am looking for a gift for someone that likes Native American objects. She likes to decorate her walls with them and now has a bow, quiver, arrows and a javelin.

She has one relatiely blank wall nad doesn’t know what to put there.

I was thinking that some sort of ‘splayed out deerskin’ (I don’t know how to explain) or larger ‘shield’ would fill the wall up nicely and look good.

Her focus on Native American seems to be Plains Indian orientated. I tried to explain to her that there were a gazillion different Native American cultures but she seems most comfortable with ‘Plains’ Indians, probably because of many westerns :wink:

My half hearted Google searches only come up with SW Indian goods which I know she isn’t overly interested in.

Any ideas of where to find or other idea as replacement?

Thanks

2

Please buy from the Native Americans themselves, rather than a trading post or some store. They basically pay these folks a pittance of what their handiworks are worth and then turn around and sell them for extreme prices.

I see a lot of folks selling thier own, authentic works on ebay a lot.

3

Aenea, she would not accept anything that wasn’t made from a Native American and all her objects were purchased directly.

4

When I googled, I got this:
http://www.thundermountainranch.org/Qstore/p000065.htm
http://www.texasfrontieroutfitters.com/tfo-gc-masks.html

Personally, I like the masks much more than the shields, but I’ve been told I have no taste on several occassions.

5

Haven’t checked out links yet Carcosa.

I never thought of Ebay…there appears to be items there. Thanks!

6

Wow! Thanks aenea. The prices are so much more reasonable here than other places I looked. Looks like you are right. They are so reasonable that my normally risk-averse self (I need to physically see things I buy) will probably be willing to take a risk.

7

Please read the Ebay blurb about Native American artifacts before buying. They (Ebay) do a pretty good job controlling the pothunters but they can’t catch everyone. Be sure you know what to look for.

8

I’ve bought some interesting stuff from My Potlatch, which I think is a buisiness operation affiliated with the Salish tribe of Washington state. You’d better hurry, though, because they have a fairly early delivery cutoff.

9

I am a Native American from an Ojibwe tribe. We aren’t really ‘Plains’ Indians, but my aunt and uncle make some very nice stuff. If you are interested in it, you could PM me and I could put you in touch with them. They make a lot of dreamcatchers, necklaces, traditionally-styled wall coverings, etc. They get their skills from oral teachings passed down from generation to generation, and I assure you they are authentic.