Traditional Arrows

Season 5 • Episode 7

Chickasaw Culture Keepers

Hunting has always been a part of Chickasaw artisan Elihu Johnson's life. Elihu has hunted with a hand-made bow and arrows since he was five years old. And now, he continues the tradition through making his own arrows. Learning most of his skills from the book "The Traditional Bowyer's Bible," he says he creates arrows to provide his family with food and to pass the tradition on to the next generation. According to Elihu, the reason why his Chickasaw ancestors used the bow and arrow was out of necessity. It was safer to fight and to hunt from a distance in order to stay safe – providing food and security for the tribe and family. Elihu walks through his process of crafting his imperfectly beautiful arrows, from choosing the proper wood, sourcing feathers for fletching and how to create an arrow tip. "I'm very proud of the arrows because I put a piece of myself into all of them, my blood, sweat and tears," says Elihu. He says that passing on the skill and craft of arrow making was of utmost importance to him. Having taught everyone from his children to people around the world, he prides himself in keeping the sacred fire lit and passed on: "That's why I'm here."

EPISODES

3m 30s

Traditional Arrows

EPISODES

Pottery

Stickball Sticks

Beading

Regalia

Metalsmithing

Shell Carving

Weaving

Horticulture

Baskets

Traditional Foods

Quilting

Flutes

Beaded Collars

Drum Making

Storytelling

Bow Making

Brent Greenwood Art

Beaded Jewelry

Flint Knapping

Stomp Dancing

Beadwork

Turkey Calls

Traditional Stories: How Day and Night Were Divided

Woodturning

Bead Artisan

Textile Art

Quilt Making

Jewelry

The Legacy of Bow Making

Bead Artistry

Painting

Woven Mats

Metalworking

Photography

Pashofa

Deer Toe Shakers

Stickball Sticks

Shell Carving

Medicine Bags

Natural Dyes

Twinning

Bladesmithing

Fish Nets

Porcupine Quillwork

Pottery Burnishing

Shell Carving

Duck Decoys

Traditional Arrows

Fine Gourd Art

Traditional Flutes

Turtle Pottery

Turtle Shell Shakers

Pucker Toe Moccasins

Chunkey

Tattoos and War Paint

Leggings and Breechcloths

Hide Brain Tanning

River Cane Harvesting, Splitting and Peeling

Stories of Kullihoma

History of Beads