People of the Northern Plains Hall

Worn on the head and attached by a braid on the warrior, a roach represents the strength, agility, and fearlessness of the warrior.

All tools of war are treated in a manner that respects warriors’ ability to take the lives of enemies or animals. This shot pouch is ornamented with quillwork in symbols that represent the beliefs of the warrior.

Warriors used coup sticks to show bravery by getting close enough to strike, but not kill, their enemies.

This coup stick is ornamented with items that the warrior reveres. By using these items on a coup stick, he demonstrates the strength of his belief system in a tangible way.

Donated by the Artifacts Room of Military History, Nutana Legion #362

The warrior staff contains elements that represent the ideals and beliefs of the Warrior Society. These ideals and beliefs are celebrated and honoured on the staff. The articles on the staff are outward signs of the Society’s reliance on the Creator and the teachings sent to them by the Creator.

Beaded poppies were once very rare, however they have grown in popularity due to an increase in traditional arts. Beading a poppy is a very personal act and was originally intended to be made in memory or recognition of a loved one who had served and who was Indigenous, or had Indigenous connections.

Decorative holsters were often worn in battle as an adornment rather than for protection. They were also used for ceremonial purposes.

ALL ITEMS ON WARRIOR MADE BY TIM EASHAPPIE SR., UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED

Breech Cloth

This breech cloth has ribbons, metal adornments, and designs that tell the story of the warrior’s accomplishments and the societies he represents.

Bear Claw and Hair Pipe Choker

The wearer of a bear claw necklace had to have faced a bear and gained its claws in that battle. He honours the bear by wearing his claws and draws on the bear’s strength.

Shell Earrings

Traveling long distances, warriors were often in the position to acquire trade goods like shells.

Tobacco Pouch

Tobacco is a gift from the Creator and is essential in ceremonial communication with the Creator.

Bow and Arrows, Quiver Parfleche

Made by Richard Poafybitty, 1992

For strength and springiness, the bow is made from the chokecherry tree. A parfleche holds arrows and is worn over the shoulder or attached to a saddle or horse regalia.

Small Beaded Pouch

Beads are used to create designs that remind the wearer of important information. This design represents a specific location in a mountainous area.

WWII COMBAT UNIFORM

On Permanent Loan from the Artifact Room of Military History, Nutana Legion #362

MEDAL BAR WWII 39/45 STAR, FRANCE AND GERMANY STAR, DEFENCE MEDAL,CANADIAN VOLUNTEER MEDAL WITH CLASP WAR MEDAL

On Permanent Loan from the Artifact Room of Military History, Nutana Legion #362

REGINA RIFLES BERET 1944

The Royal Regina Rifles Regiment is part of the 3rd Canadian Division’s 38 Canadian Brigade Group.

Rawhide, acrylic paint, sinew, wood

Drums are considered animate, “to be alive”. Not all nations paint their drums; it depends on their family and community teachings.

This drum is a typical Plains handheld drum, painted with symbols that have meanings to the
drum maker. It is used for ceremonies and songs at Wanuskewin.

Hide, chokecherry, natural pigments, cloth, metal, horse hair

A warrior’s protection comes from the shield in both a physical and spiritual manner. He would paint it with images from his own visions, or those of a medicine man. The deer hooves painted on the shield indicate his belief in our connection to animals, in this case deer. Animals are spiritual protectors highlight the importance of our connection to Ina Makoce (Mother Earth) and the Creator.

Smudging is a ceremony that happens daily in many homes and businesses. Other utensils, like a cast iron pan, are also used. The historical use of shells in ceremony and adornment reveals the ancient trade routes of Indigenous people.

There is a strong relationship between Indigenous women and fire. In some languages, the word used for ‘fire’ is the root of the word used for ‘women’. The strike-a-light bag is filled with the tools a woman needs to make a fire. In this way, it represents her importance in Indigenous society as a firekeeper, nurturer, healer, and her connection to the Creator as the one who can bring new life into this world.

Bison fur, bison horn, trade cloth, brass
Artist unknown

Bison horn bonnets have spiritual and ceremonial importance to the Indigenous people of the Plains. They were worn by distinguished members of warrior societies who had completed certain deeds. Only the highest-ranking warriors were allowed to wear one.

Hide, natural paints, twisted fringe in Apache style Made by Richard Poafpybitty, Comanche Nation, 1992

War shirts are powerful and sacred garments, which would be awarded to men who performed extreme acts of bravery and lived by a strict code of conduct. They would be worn in ceremony and sometimes in battle. The raw edge design follows the natural form
of the animal from which
the skin was taken to
maintain the animal’s
integrity and power.

The pipe came to men as a gift from the Creator. In Nakoda tradition this gift was brought by a woman. The pipe bag is a highly decorated bag that holds the pipe, with each piece the stem and bowl – stored separately inside. The
intricate designs are usually produced by family members and reflect the relationship between the Pipe, Creator, and the Pipe Carrier.

Tobacco and all medicines were gifted to the people to help them live. This smoked hide tobacco pouch keeps tobacco dry and uncontaminated. The care involved in keeping the tobacco indicates its great value to the people.

On Turtle Island, there are many nations, each with their own culture and way of doing things. All Indigenous nations hold in common their knowledge of nature. All learning comes from the natural world as given by the
Creator. A staff is a highly honoured and sacred object. It can represent the beliefs and ideals of a particular group of Indigenous people. It can represent a specific group like a clan or society within the Nation.

Woman’s Dress

Made by Richard Poafpybitty, Comanche Nation, 1992

Prior to the trade era, clothing was made from hide and fashioned together with leather lacing, such as along the sides of this dress.

Parfleche

Made by Richard Poafpybitty, Comanche Nation, 1992

Dentalium Earrings

Years may be spent collecting little shells to make earrings like these.

Medicine Bag

The Nakoda designs on this bag serve as reminders of the methods and mixtures used for healing with plant medicines.

Knife Sheath, Strike-A-Light, Awl Case

This design represents the teachings essential to providing a good home.

Cradleboard, Artist unknown

Cradleboards serve as a safe and comfortable home for tiny babies as they begin their lives. A cradleboard allows the
baby to be positioned in an upright manner from an early age.

Calico Cloth Clothing

Calico cloth was adopted as a trade era item and replaced hide in the use of garments.

Tobacco Pouch

Among plants, tobacco is considered the most important. Although often scarce, tobacco is highly meaningful to Indigenous peoples- used as a medicine and smoked in ceremony.

Beaded Leggings

Made by Rose Eashappie and the late Eileen Eashappie

It became more common for people of the Plains to wear fully beaded leggings and moccasins- prized for their beautiful and diverse colours and designs.

Red willow with chokecherry frame and handles.

Red willow baskets are made in the southern part of the Plains where red willow and chokecherry bushes were abundant, and birch trees less so. The materials are harvested in late winter or early spring. Red willow is flexible and can be shaped in a variety of sizes. The baskets are used to collect berries, seeds, medicines, or any item imaginable.

Elk antler, hardwood

Digging sticks are tailored to the specific needs of the user. This one allows an older woman to dig from a standing position.

Each woman would have worn or carried sinew, sewing awls, and needles made of bone as essential tools.

Trade cloth came into use after European contact and became an important trade item in establishing negotiation and trade.

Birch bark with spruce root trim and moose hide strap.

Artisan’s name is unknown, but at one time she lived in a settlement on the shores of Otter Lake near Missinippi,
Saskatchewan. She later moved to Stanley Mission, SK.

Children’s toys help prepare them for their adult life. This braided rope is used as a snare and teaches the young person how to harvest animals to provide for their own needs and those of their family.

Brothers provide food for their families. They are responsible for their sisters into adulthood and in return, sisters do all they can for their brothers- sewing, cooking, and helping them well into adulthood and then assisting in caring for their brother’s children. These obligations exist between siblings, aunts and uncles, children, and between members of clans and societies.

Under the guidance of an Elder or parent, a young man might receive a hand drum as his introduction into singing ceremonial and social songs. Both songs and drums come in many different types and are used for many different purposes.

A shorter digging tool made from an elk antler is meant to be used from a kneeling position closer to the root
being harvested. Its moose hide wrist strap gives the user leverage.

In the Great Lakes region, cattails are common and often used to create the houses of the people who live there. The leftover cattails are crafted into toys for children, small decoys, and dolls.

A baby carrier can be carried by the mother or worn on her back. Toy cradleboards were used by young girls fro their dolls.

Jingle Dress

Jingle Dress Dance is a prayer dance intended to bring health and well-being to family and the community.

Cape for Girl’s Jingle Dress

This cape is ornamented with Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) style floral designs of land and water plants.

Feather

A feather is a high mark of respect, and often must be earned.

Head Band

Each dancer’s regalia is unique and never a copy of someone else’s. Even a small child’s regalia may be intricate as an adult dancer’s.

Beaded Earrings

Girls often had their ears pierced at a young age in a ceremony celebrated by parents and immediate family.

Eagle Fan with Fringe

Fans are raised by Jingle Dress dancers to honour the drum that provides the rhythm and music needed to dance.

Hand Purse

The design of this purse is unique to the Great Lakes area, home of the Anishinaabe people.

Grass Dance Regalia

Young people are often taught important lessons and concepts that can be reflected in their clothing to help them remember.

Moccasins

While moccasins may be made by a mother or aunt, even young men must learn to repair their own moccasins. It is a skill that is essential to their survival when they are out hunting or scouting.

Shell Earrings

Shells have been here for centuries originating in the inland ocean that once existed on Turtle Island (North America) before it became the home of Indigenous people.