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A
Heyoka Warrior.
Original drawings by Thunder Bear.
Copyright Walker Collection, Colorado Historical Society.
The
significant symbols in the picture not already explained are the symbols
of the Sun, the Moon and the Winged God. The star, crescent and bird are
these symbols. They indicate having received a vision from each of
these. Such symbols may be painted on a person, his implements or his
tipi. It is unusual to paint them on the person but common on the tipi
or shield. The forked lines on the limbs indicate a communication from
the Winged God (Thunderbird). Such lines may be straight but usually
they are zigzag. It is usual to paint them on the person or shield but
not on the tipi.
The
knife suspended from the wrist indicates a warrior who fights with the
knife, an unusual method, done by Heyoka, or one who has seen the Winged
God in a vision.
A
Scout.
Original drawings by Thunder Bear.
Copyright Walker Collection, Colorado Historical Society.
This
man is always the first scout to return. No scout returns home before
him. Therefore he wears the four stripped feathers of a returned scout.
Nobody else may do this, only an expert scout.
The
insignia signifying a successful scout are four eagle quills with their
webs from the black tips down trimmed from the shafts and hanging,
adorned with red bird plumes attached to the tips and worn erect at the
scalp lock. A bow and two arrows carried in the hand indicate a
readiness to act. The red colour from the top of the forehead to below
the eyes indicates compliance with Lakota customs. The yellow colour on
the body indicates readiness to do destructive things, or go to war.
Leader
of the Sotka Society.
Original drawings by Thunder Bear.
Copyright Walker Collection, Colorado Historical Society.
Head
man of the Sotka (Bare Lance) society. The Lance borne is wrapped with
otter skin with the fur on, curved with a crook at one end and a lance
point at the other. Decorated with twelve clusters of Eagle quills, two
quills in each cluster, one cluster at the end of the crook. A cord of
sinew across from the tip of the crook to the shaft of the lance
indicates the leadership of the bearer. Warbonnet, scalp shirt and hair
unbound are as before explained. The shield is ornamented in compliance
with the communication given by the Swallow, the messenger of Wakinyan.
A bull buffalo is the central figure on the shield. The shield is red.
Eagle quills are attached to the side of the shield and the apron of the
shield is ornamented with four rows of eagle quills with four quills in
each row. The entire shield is a Sacred Implement and may be used in
ceremonies.
The
tomahawk in the hand indicates the same as a war club in the hand.
Eagle
quills on the shoulders indicate leadership.
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