This is a wonderful Warrior Society dance wand. However the handle seems very short, as usually they are longer. One in the Buffalo Bill Plains Museum collection is just like this with long handle. These are also shown being used by dancers in Catlin’s paintings .

These messenger sticks are wood sticks tied with hide and a piece of membrane [possibly snake skin]. See also 11.694.9025 for visiting tobacco. Such sticks were sent by a messenger when a traveler was within a day's journey of his destination. His hosts were expected to give a small token in return.

Hoops with red pigment. These two hoops would have been used as part of a hoop and pole game that was played widespread throughout the Plains. This set is missing the stake used to pierce the hoop, thrown while running as part of the game. The stick would have been long, slender and pointed, flat on other end. The hoops are in great shape.

Gourd rattle with wooden handle, hide thong at the end . Sean Standing Bear (10/24/2000) thought based on the sound it made when rattled it might contain animal or human teeth inside.

Brooklyn Museum Collection

The object is a miniature teepee cover. On a natural background there are painted designs in brown, pink, black and grey. They represent a battle scene (possibly a horse raid) and include two mounted Indians, two leading horses, and two fallen warriors. Also shown are four warriors with rifles, hoof prints of horses, and, near the top, three stylized feather designs. Good example of miniature tipi even though not made quite correctly-too upright. Design: hoof prints indicate movement. The person hurt and lying down might be Pawnee or Osage based on the hairstyle and might have been done in by the one with the rifle. One is wearing military pants. The horses tails are tied and decorated and must be favorite warhorses as their manes are also tied. Can't tell who or what the person with the lines on his face is. Dots might indicate a person who had small pox.

This hammer has a catlinite hammer with a wooden handle covered with rawhide sewn over and around the center of the hammer. The red catlinite is tapered on each end and has three grooves around it on each end either side of the wood and hide holding it on. This might have had a decorative horsetail hanging from it. Such clubs were used in dances before a hunt and had symbolic and ceremonial function not a war function. Members of a society carried these as badges of honor and emblems of office.

Dick S. Ramsay Fund

This fan has a hide handle that has each side beaded differently from the other, one side blue, green, red and white beads, the reverse side red, blue and white. Both sides have a cross in the design. A hide thong is dyed green and tied to one side of the handle. Small eagle feathers are arranged in front of larger eagle feathers and tucked into the fan handle hide.

Brooklyn Museum Collection