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Latest Piece!​​

Chief Spotted Tail’s War Shirt
Acrylic on Metal​

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Southern Oregon Historical Society staff members have conducted extensive research to substantiate the provenance of this classic Cheyenne war shirt is attributed to Chief Spotted Tail, of the Sicangu (Burned Thighs) Lakota. The Cheyenne quilled war shirt is made of mountain sheep hide, open at the sides, an imposing quilled rosette prominently placed at front and back, quilled strips applied across the shoulders and down the sleeves, quill-wrapped hair suspensions align the arms, blue dye coloring the undecorated hide of the upper sections, red stroud cloth trimming the neck.

 

A War Shirt is a sacred, highly decorated traditional garment made by Indigenous peoples of the Great Plains in North America. Reserved for leaders and men of high social status, it acts as a record of a warrior's brave deeds and holds immense spiritual power. Only respected leaders or proven warriors earn the right to wear a war shirt during important ceremonies. A war shirt is a sacred creation and making the shirt is a holy act. Spiritual power transfers to the garment during its creation and through the respect of the tribe.