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KIT
FOX SOCIETY LEADER.
Original drawings by Thunder
Bear.
Copyright Walker Collection, Colorado Historical Society.
The yellow colour on the body, face and arms indicates a membership in
the Kit Fox Society. The red colour on the hands indicates a compliance
with Oglala ceremonies that entitles the wearer to handle sacred things
and to lead a war party. The red colour on the thighs, legs and feet
indicates having danced the Sun Dance. The yellow fox skin suspended
from the right hand is the badge of membership of the Fox Society. The
eagle quills attached to it indicate that the man is a leader within
that society and the red bird plumes attached to the top of the quills
indicate a leadership in war, one such quill for each war party led.
The
war club suspended from the right hand indicates a warrior ready to do
battle when called upon.
The
wristlets of otter skin with the fur on indicate compliance with the
sacred ceremonies of the Oglala. The irregular coloured stripes around
the forearm indicate having been a captive of the enemy and having made
an escape from them.
The
armlets indicate compliance with the customs of the Oglala. The wisp of
sweetgrass dangling from the armlet on the right arm indicates a
willingness to comply with the customs of the Oglala. The red eagle
plume dangling from the armlet on the right arms indicates an observance
with the great virtue of bravery. The red dangle of tanned skin on the
armlet on the left arm indicates having been wounded in the arm by an
enemy. The blue/green dangle from the same armlet indicates reliability
or trustworthiness.
The
red marks on the right upper forearm indicate wounds by cutting. The red
dots on the left upper forearm indicate wounds by arrows or spears.
These marks or dots may be placed on any part of the body. The
horizontal red lines on the arms and body indicate having been in
battle, as do the red lines radiating from the neck. One such line can
be placed on the arm, body or neck for each battle.
The
eagle quills worn at the scalp lock, if worn upright, indicate having
killed an enemy. One quill may be worn for each enemy killed. If the
enemy was killed in battle a red bird plume should be attached to the
tip of the eagle quill. If the quill has no such plume then the enemy
was not killed in battle. Eagle plumes and quills may be worn as
indications of many things but the indication is shown by the position
of the quill, the colour painted on it and the manner of cutting it.
The
red roach worn at the parting of the hair in front of the scalp lock
indicates having attacked the enemy when the enemy was protected in some
manner. The eagle plume at the lock (coloured black in the picture
although it would be white in reality) indicates a good repute.
The
hair unbraided when on the warpath indicates a willingness to do
desperate ventures. The dark rings around the eyes indicate membership
of the Society of the Owls and willingness to undertake, or having done,
warlike things at night, or having surprised and killed an enemy.
A
black horizontal line across the cheek indicates having killed an enemy
who was not a Lakota. Black around the mouth and on the chin indicates
having returned from a war party bearing the scalp of an enemy killed in
battle.
A
collar with streamers indicates a warrior who has fought against the
enemy. Each streamer indicates a battle he has fought in. If the
streamer is red it indicates that the wearer was wounded in the battle;
if it is any other colour it indicates that he was not wounded in the
battle.
The
diagonal black stripes on the thighs indicate having been in battle on
foot; the black crosses that he was in battle on horseback.
The
sash over the right shoulder and across the chest is of antelope hooves
and is a charm prepared by the Holy Man to protect against wounds. The
belt with discs on is a charm prepared by the Holy Man to secure
sustenance when on the warpath.
The
string of tinkling bangles from waist to ankle indicates that that the
war dance has been done. Only men who have fought the enemy may dance
this dance and wear the badge of having done so.
The
leg ornaments, if of otter skin with the fur on, indicate having scouted
against the enemy.
Holy
Bow Carrier – Tsististas.
 
Original drawings by Thunder Bear.
Copyright Walker Collection, Colorado Historical Society.
This man can never be shot in battle, he is very skillful. The indicative
insignia are the eagle quill worn at the scalp lock, the red stripes on
the head and face, the armlets and the red stripes on the moccasins.
The quill and armlets have been described in Number 1. The
red stripe on the head indicates that the man is a Tsististas (Cheyenne).
The perpendicular red stripes on the face indicate that an enemy was
killed in hand-to-hand combat. The red stripes on the moccasins indicate
that the enemy was killed while on foot.
War
Party Leader (Blotohuka).
Original drawings by Thunder Bear.
Copyright Walker Collection, Colorado Historical Society.
The
distinctive insignia are the eagle quills at the scalp lock, the red
forehead with black perpendicular stripes on it, the yellow arms and legs,
the diagonal red stripes on the thighs, the black rabbit tracks on the
legs, the war pipe in hand and the scalp shirt.
The red forehead with black perpendicular stripes on it and
the diagonal red stripes on the thighs indicate intention to war against
an enemy. The yellow colouring of the body is the symbolic colour of The
God of the Rock (Inyan), the patron of revenge, destruction and violence.
Rabbit tracks on the sides of the legs indicate rapidity of action and
that the war will be made on foot.
The war pipe should have a black stem ornamented with a human
scalp. When carried or smoked it indicates warlike intentions.
A scalp shirt is an ordinary skin shirt ornamented in any
manner, but it must have fringes of human hair, representing scalps, at
the seams of the sides and arms. To wear a scalp shirt indicates intention
to do an act of bravery. To habitually wear it indicates a man who has
done a notable act of bravery. To wear it temporarily means a position of
responsibility that may be dangerous. One who organises a war party and
leads it may wear it temporarily and if the party is victorious in battle
he may wear it habitually.
A
Man Who Killed An Enemy.
Original drawings by Thunder Bear.
Copyright Walker Collection, Colorado Historical Society.
Described
as follows by a Lakota: “This man dresses in this way and then kills an
enemy honourably. The enemy was very dangerous but this man was the more
to be feared as dangerous. He was not afraid of being killed. So now he is
a good man. Now he is a leader. He is Lakota.”
The distinctive insignia are the yellow colour on the face
and body and the red colour on the limbs and feet; the armlets, wristlets
and anklets; the war bonnet and banner and the irregular red line about
the left eye. All these have been explained except for the red line. This
is an irregular line forked at both ends and is the symbol of Wakinyan,
the Winged God (or Thunderbird). It indicates having been irresistible in
war.
Striped
Warbonnet – A Tsististas.
Original drawings by Thunder Bear.
Copyright Walker Collection, Colorado Historical Society.
The
significant insignia are the red body, the armlets and wristlets, the
Warbonnet and the banner. The red body indicates compliance with
Cheyenne customs. The armlets and wristlets have been explained.
The
Warbonnet is made of a headpiece that fits like a cap to which is
attached at the rim a circle of quills from the tail of a young Golden
Eagle. The feathers are white, tipped with black and are arranged so
that they project upwards. A Warbonnet can be ornamented in any manner
to suit the taste and fancy of the owner and significance may be given
to the ornamentation that will be recognised by the people. One
ornamentation is a long pendant behind, to which is attached a row of
quills like those on the bonnet. All feathers must, of course, be
earned. Another conventional ornament is an eagle plume attached to the
centre of the headpiece so that it projects above the quills. Only men
of renown were permitted to wear the warbonnet, the pendant indicating
greater battle deeds and the plume a great repute than a warbonnet
without these ornaments. The colouring in the picture, the blue of the
headpiece and plume and the bird feather plumes at the tips of the
quills, indicate protection by the Great Spirit. The red pendant and
squares on the bonnet and pendant indicate having fought furiously and
the dark spots on the pendant indicate having fought on horseback.
The
banner is a coup stick to which are applied tertiary quills from the
wing of a young Golden Eagle. These are white with black tips. The coup
stick denotes that the bearer has touched the body of an enemy while at
war. If the body was dead and killed by another then the stick should be
plain with no dangles of any kind. If the body was dead and killed by
the one who touched it then the stick should have a dangle made from an
eagle’s quill. If a scalp was taken the stick should have a scalp (or
an imitation scalp) dangling from its upper end. If the bearer touched a
number of bodies his coupstick should have eagle quills attached as to
form a banner similar to that shown in the picture. The quills may be
attached to all or only part of the stick.
A
Man Who Killed Two Enemies.
Original drawings by Thunder Bear.
Copyright Walker Collection, Colorado Historical Society.
The
distinctive insignia in the illustration are two eagle feathers at the
scalp lock, the yellow colour on the face and red colour on the body,
the red line around each temple, the armlet with yellow dangles and the
coupstick. The eagle quills and colours have been explained. The red
lines about the temples and the yellow dangles on the armlet indicate
that he was able to kill two enemies. The eagle quills upright indicate
that they were killed in battle and the coupstick that he touched their
bodies.
Leader
of the Beaver Society.
Original drawings by Thunder Bear.
Copyright Walker Collection, Colorado Historical Society.
The
distinctive insignia in the drawing not already explained are the
unbraided but bound hair, the otter skin sash and the war club. The
unbraided but bound hair indicates having done desperate deeds and the
readiness to do them again. The otter skin sash is the badge of
chieftainship of the Beaver Society of the Oglala Lakota. Habitual
carrying of a war club indicates a warrior ready to go on the warpath at
any time
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