Across
- 4. Earth goddess; mother of Huitzilopochtli; symbolizes life, death, and rebirth.
- 5. The domination and exploitation of Indigenous peoples and lands by European powers, beginning in the 15th–16th centuries.
- 8. The acknowledgment that Native American cultures are not uniform; over 180 languages and countless traditions exist, reflecting varied worldviews and aesthetic values.
- 9. Patrimony Refers to objects of great cultural, historical, or spiritual importance to a community, belonging collectively rather than to any individual.
- 10. Indigenous group allied with Cortés against the Aztecs.
- 12. Simplified, harmful portrayals of Native people that erase real diversity and humanity.
- 13. Supreme spiritual energy; known as Orenda (Iroquois), Manitou (Algonquin), or Wakan (Lakota).
Down
- 1. A broad category including all artistic expressions of the Indigenous peoples of the Americas—from prehistoric to contemporary times—rooted in both utilitarian and spiritual functions.
- 2. Use of shared symbols like the Plumed Serpent or Feline Deity, which carried spiritual meanings across regions.
- 3. Mesoamerican civilization that rose in the 13th century and dominated central Mexico until 1521.
- 6. A belief system recognizing a spiritual realm that connects all living and natural elements. Accessed through dreams, visions, and ceremonies.
- 7. Spanish conquistador who defeated the Aztecs in 1521.
- 11. Act of sustaining gods and maintaining universal balance through blood offerings.