Wigwam Stories Told by North American Indians

We’re looking at the title page from Wigwam Stories Told by North American Indians, published in 1901 and illustrated by Angel De Cora, one of the first Native American illustrators to gain national recognition. The design incorporates Native American visual motifs, symmetrical patterns, symbolic geometric borders, and typography that blends Western legibility with Indigenous design. 

This title page is historically significant because it marks a rare instance where Indigenous design values and aesthetics were represented in mainstream print media at the turn of the 20th century, by an Indigenous woman. Angel De Cora’s work challenged dominant Euro-American design by integrating Native American forms, structure, and symbolism. This opened space for culturally diverse storytelling in design.

Angel De Cora’s design is an early example of how visual communication can be used not only to decorate or inform but also to preserve cultural heritage. It educates readers about their values, beliefs, and connection to nature. This demonstrates how design can act as a way of communicating environmental and cultural knowledge, contributing to the long-term evolution of socially-conscious and environmentally-aware design practice.

This piece shows that care for the environment in design didn’t start with Western movements in the mid-1900s, it was already a part of Indigenous design traditions long before that. Angel De Cora’s work is grounded in a deep respect for nature, community, and storytelling, values which are important to environmental awareness. Through her illustrations of Native stories, many of which center around animals, plants, and the land, she brings these connections to life visually. Her work brings attention to the environment and helps shift the spotlight, showing that Indigenous voices have always been important in the story of environmental design.