Tribal Totems​

Tribe Totems are the emblems of tribes that reflect the lineage of a tribe, reminding them of their ancestry or their mythical past and creation myths. The word totem is derived from the Ojibwa word 'odoodem' meaning "his kinship group". Many tribes also hold the belief that their people have Tribe Totems that are spirit guides who sometimes appear in dreams or Vision Quest the form of animals. These Tribe Totems, or spirit guides, walk through life with them, teaching and guiding them and protecting them. Tribe Totems are particularly associated with the Totem Poles that are created by six tribes of Northwest Indians, the indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest Coast but other Native Americans hold similar beliefs. 

   Tribe Totems all had a special meaning,characteristics and significance. Some Tribe Totems are Animal Spirits that can be called upon, by an individual or a tribe, for its special powers to serve as a guardian or protector when the tribe is facing adversity.Tribe Totems were believed to have spiritual significance and watched over the tribe symbolizing their guardian spirit or helper. 

Tribe Totems*Each one of the Tribe Totems had a special meaning, characteristics and significance. The following details the common Tribe Totems used by Native Indian Tribes across North America.

Also refered to Power Animals  

Tribe Totems    

Abenaki    - Wolf, wild cat (black), bear, snake, beaver, caribou,  sturgeon, muskrat, pigeon, hawk, squirrel, spotted frog, crane, porcupine 

Tribe Totem  Cayuga     - Bear, wolf, turtle, deer, beaver, eel, snipe, hawk 

Tribe Totems     Chickasaw - Wildcat, bird, panther, fish, deer, raccoon, squirrel, alligator,   wolf, blackbird 

 Tribe Totem      Cherokee    - Wolf, holly, deer, bird 

 Tribe Totems     Crow     - Prairie dog, skunk, bear, raven, antelope 

 Tribe Totems     Creek  - Wolf, bear, skunk, alligator, panther, mole, fish, beaver, snake, bear, deer, fox,  otter, bird, toad, raccoon, wildcat,buffalo 

 Tribe Totem      Delaware or Lenape - Wolf, bear, dog, opossum, turtle, eel, turkey, crane, chicken   

Tribe Totems     Fox and Sauk - Wolf, bear, deer, elk, hawk, eagle, fish, fox,  buffalo, sturgeon 

 Tribe Totems     Haida    - Raven clan, eagle, killer-whale, black bear, loon, woodpecker,  Thunderbird (mythical), hawk, wolf, dogfish, owl, otter, grizzly bear, sea lion,  mountain goat   

Tribe Totems     Huron or Wyandot - Turtle, wolf, bear, porcupine, beaver, deer, snake, hawk. 

 Tribe Totem      Hopi - Mountain sheep, deer, antelope, elk, ant, duck, frog, snake, puma, dove, skunk, raccoon, crane, pigeon hawk, eagle, hawk, turkey, badger, butterfly, coyote, fox, squirrel, lizard, spider, magpie, field mouse, porcupine, turkey and buzzard 

 Tribe Totem      Iowa - Black bear, wolf, coyote, eagle, elk, beaver, pigeon, raccoon, grouse, buffalo,  rattlesnake, owl. 

 Tribe Totems     Kansas or Kaw - Deer, eagle, prairie wolf, bear, duck, turtle,buffalo,  elk, earth, raccoon, hawk 

Tribe Totem      Lenape - Wolf, bear, dog, opossum, turtle, eel, turkey, crane, chicken 

 Tribe Totems     Mandan - Wolf, bear, prairie chicken, eagle    Tribe Totems     Menomonee - Bear, porcupine, turtle, crane, wolf, otter, sturgeon, eagle, hawk, eagle, turkey-buzzard, crow, raven, beaver, elk, pine squirrel, wolf, dog, deer, great heron 

 Tribe Totems     Miami - Wolf, eagle, buzzard, panther, turkey, raccoon 

 Tribe Totems     Mohave - Moon, caterpillar, coyote, rain cloud, sun, beaver ,mesquite 

 Tribe Totems     Mohawk - Bear, wolf, and turtle   

Tribe Totem      Mohican - Wolf, turtle, turkey, bear, dog, opossum, yellow eel, crane, chicken

   Tribe Totems     Ojibwa - Crane, catfish, bear, reindeer, wolf, pike, lynx, eagle, rattlesnake, moose, cormorant, goose, sturgeon, beaver, gull, hawk, turtle, snipe, duck, snake, muskrat, heron, water snake, wildcat, otter, buffalo, grizzly bear, reindeer, pike.   

Tribe Totems     Omaha - Male elk and deer, bear, turtle or tortoise, bird,buffalo, reptiles, wolf 

 Tribe Totem      Oneida - Bear, wolf, turtle 

 Tribe Totem      Onondaga - Bear, wolf, turtle, deer, beaver, eel Tribe Totems     Osage - buffalo bull, black bear, elk, swan, bald eagle, turtle, fish 

 Tribe Totems     Ponca - Wildcat, elk, buffalo 

 Tribe Totems     Pueblo - Mountain lion, humming bird, blue bird, gopher, boulder goose 

 Tribe Totems     Sauk and Fox - Wolf, bear, deer, elk, hawk, eagle, fish, fox,  buffalo, sturgeon   

Tribe Totems     Seneca - Bear, wolf, turtle, deer, beaver, heron, snipe, hawk 

 Tribe Totems     Shawnee - Wolf, bear, buzzard, panther, owl, turkey, deer, raccoon, turtle, snake,  horse, rabbit 

 Tribe Totems     Seminole - Panther, otter, bird, deer, wolf, snake, alligator 

 Tribe Totems     Tlingit - Raven, frog, goose, sea lion, owl, salmon, beaver, codfish, skate, wolf, eagle,  bear, killer-whale, shark, auk, gull, sparrow-hawk

   Tribe Totem      Tuscarora - Bear, gray wolf, yellow wolf, great turtle, little turtle, beaver, eel 

 Tribe Totems     Tsimshian - Raven, codfish, starfish, eagle, halibut, beaver, whale, wolf, crane, grizzly bear, bear, killer whale, dolphin 

 Tribe Totems     Winnebago - Wolf, elk, bear, deer, buffalo, snake, eagle 

 Tribe Totems     Wyandot or Huron - Turtle, wolf, bear, porcupine, beaver, deer, snake, hawk 

 Tribe Totems     Zuni - Crane or pelican, coyote, badger, antelope, eagle, parrot-macaw, cotton-tail rabbit, tortoise, bear, deer, turkey, toad or frog, rattle-snake