The purpose of this study was to investigate and identify traits describing gifted American Indian elementary school students. A large sample of characteristics was acquired from past or existing programs for gifted American Indian students, an investigative Q study, and relevant literature. The items were narrowed down to create a validation instrument of 60 descriptors representing 7 general categories of giftedness, as grouped by American Indian adults from several Plains tribes. The instrument was applied and completed by teachers of 812 gifted and non-gifted American Indian children in Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, and Washington. Of these, 251 instruments were analyzed for this study. The results identify 30 items that significantly differentiate gifted American Indians from other students. The items appear to describe goal-directed and highly creative skills involving problem-solving and working in groups. A checklist of 28 positively worded and scored "tribal cultural characteristics" is suggested as an aid in identifying gifted American Indian students. Tables include a t-test of means between gifted and non-gifted groups for each of the 60 descriptors. (TES)