The Cree were first contacted by Europeans in 1682, at the mouth of the Nelson and Hayes rivers in what is now northern Manitoba, by a Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) party traveling about 100 miles (160 km) inland. In the south, contact was later. In 1732 in what is now northwestern Ontario, Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, sieur de La Vérendrye, met with an assembled group of 200 Cree warriors near present-day Fort Frances, as well as with the Monsoni, (a branch of the Ojibwe). Both groups had donned war paint in preparation to an attack on the Dakota and another group of Ojibwe. After acquiring firearms from the HBC, the Cree moved as traders into the plains, acting as middlemen with the HBC. Native Americans live in close symbiosis with nature. They understand the importance of respecting life and try their best to co-exist with all life forms on Earth. The moon and stars have a special significance to Native Americans. Native Americans used the moon to tell time by counting from one new moon to the next, known as a lunar cycle. Native Americans assigned names to the moon for each month to keep track of the seasons. Each name is a symbol of what the moon meant to Native Americans by virtue of its use, guidance and influence in their daily lives. In December, the full moon is named “The Cold Moon” or the Full Long Nights Moon. This is the time when the nights are dark longest and the days are coldest. January is named the “Wolf Moon” because during the cold nights wolves would howl hungrily outside the Native American villages. February’s moon is the “Snow Moon” because at this time the native places were hit with heavy snow falls. At such time, both humans and beasts had to go hungry, for hunting was difficult. The March full moon is named Crow Moon because, as winter ends, the crow is known to caw as if wishing goodbye to the cold weather. This moon is also known as Worm Moon because it is at this time that the birds start catching worms. The full moon in April is named Egg Moon because of the spouting and renewal of the nature. The May full moon is aptly called Flower Moon. Native Americans believed that during this month, the flowers grew and danced at night in honor of the moon. The June full moon is known as Strawberry Moon, for this is the season when strawberries ripen and are plucked. The natives believed that picking strawberries in the night would ensure a bountiful crop in subsequent years. Thunder Moon is the name given to the full moon of July. At this time, there were many thunderstorms. Also, at this time the buck deer would start forming its antlers; hence the name Buck Moon. August’s full moon is known as Red Moon. The moon in this month is not only huge but also reddish as it reflects the rays of the sun, even at night. The September full moon is known as Harvest Moon, for it is during this month that most of the crops are harvested. Hunters Moon is the name given to the full moon of October, when foliage is full grown and the deer would be plenty and slow to move. November’s full moon is called the Beaver Moon because the beaver population peaked during this month, and natives would set traps to catch them. The meaning of the stars might not have been easily understood by non-tribal people. Natives used the stars to tell time, navigate the rivers and seas and predict the future. However, from studies of the drawings and interpretations of historians, it may be inferred that the natives thought of stars as the spirits of their ancestors and they honored each with a name and symbol. Some sources mention that Native Americans used stars’ positions to indicate specific seasons or events of the year such as harvest time, planting time, buffalo hunt time and so on. Incredibly beautiful forged iron head with inlaid brass stars and a crescent moon. Originates from the Cree people. This tomahawk needs to be displayed and cherished for future generations to see and appreciate! The item “Original Cree Indian Pipe Axe Tomahawk Inlaid Stars & Moon Early 1800’s” is in sale since Wednesday, January 23, 2019. This item is in the category “Antiques\Ethnographic\Native American”. The seller is “realroughriders” and is located in Jonesborough, Tennessee. This item can be shipped worldwide.

• Color: Brown
• Material: Iron
• Original/Reproduction: Original