Remembering the Battle of the Little Big Horn
June 25 and 26, 1876 witnessed one of the most decisive battles in U.S. history.The 7th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army led by Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer along with an estimated 80…
Tribe Scribe
Donald Montileaux: History of Ledger Art
The other day we chatted with artist Donald Montileaux and got an inside look at his studio - we looked at some amazing work, had the chance to see some of his drawings in progress, and also learned s…
James Little Wounded: Symbols & Color
The expressive imagery and powerful colors Minneconjou Lakota artist James Little Wounded uses in his artwork are not only beautiful, but they are also filled with meaning. In this snippet, James e…
Remembering Chief Sitting Bull
This month marks the anniversary of the death of the legendary Hunkpapa Lakota Chief, Sitting Bull (Thathanka Iyotake). He is remembered among the Lakota as an inspirational leader and fearless warrio…
Veteran's Day: A Day to Honor our Veterans
November 11, 2011 is a day we honor our Veterans as a Nation. This important group of people makes it possible for this blog to exist, our freedoms to be enjoyed on a daily basis, and our freedom to c…
Native Artist Mary Lou Big Day: Preserving the Crow Culture
In the old days, dolls were made for young girls to teach them about their future responsibilities as women, as well as pass on cultural and family traditions…and Native American artist Mary Lou Big D…
Remembering Crazy Horse
This month marks the anniversary of the death of the visionary Lakota leader, Crazy Horse (Tashunkewitko). Known for his bravery, his legendary battles, and his struggle to preserve the Lakota culture…
Revitalizing the Lakota Language
At its core, language is a basic vehicle for communication used by a people who are of the same community or nation, the same geographical area, or the same cultural tradition…and in the case of Nativ…
The Native American Art of Horse Masking
"The horse is an icon of Plains Indian culture - an indispensable companion in times of peace, and a fearless ally in times of war".
- from the book, A Song for the Horse NationUpon the introduction…
Artist OJ Laier III: Reviving the History of Native American Warrior Societies
Awakening the spirit of pre 1840s Plains Indian Buffalo Culture, the work of non-Native artist OJ Laier III is inspired by this extraordinary time in history and carries with it his innate love of and…
Native Dresses Tell a Story
"More than mere articles of clothing; they [dresses] are canvases for the expression of tribal culture and personal identity. At each stage of life, exquisitely sewed clothing enriched the lives of…
The Heart & Soul of the Lakota: The Buffalo
At the core of the Lakota culture is the buffalo or Tatanka. For thousands of years, the lives of the Buffalo Nation and the Lakota people were spiritually and physically interconnected - as herds roa…