Cheyenne

Historical & Contemporary Perspectives

1. Background on origination of Cheyenne tribes.

1. The Cheyenne and the Sutai merge.

2. Northern and Southern Cheyenne � The "time" of the Buffalo and the "time" of the Horse.

4. Cheyenne religious ceremonies � Sacred Medicine Hat, Renewal of the Medicine Arrows, the Sun Dance

5. Cheyenne symbolism � the Dragonfly

6. The White Man � Treaties, fragile peace, and bloody battles.

1. Modern tribal divisions � The Allotment Act of 1887.

2. U.S. government compensatory damages to the Cheyenne.

3. Modern socio-economic problems, loss of land, dwindling numbers.

1. Then and Now � Cheyenne heritage endures against the changes of time.

Historical & Contemporary Perspectives

"What made the Cheyenne special was that they were fewer than most of their enemies; always outnumbered but never outfought"

The Cheyenne Indians were one of the mightiest tribes on the Great Plains. The Cheyenne originally settled the land as farmers but during the 18th century their introduction to horses allowed them to travel far distances. Mighty hunters and warriors, the Cheyenne merited the respect of both friends and enemies equally. However, the biggest threat to the Cheyenne, like most Native American tribes,

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all of the Cheyenne rituals, the Sun Dance was intended to do one thing, keep the Cheyenne strong "During the Sun Dance, young men proved their courage by threading a leather thong through two holes punctured in their chest. They then stood for hours in front of a pole to which the end of the thong was tied. The rite was very painful, allowing a man to display to his fellow tribespeople his ability to withstand great hardship" (Sonneborn, 1992, 19-20). Symbolism drawn from nature was extremely important to Cheyenne life. One of the most important symbols was the dragonfly. Often, Cheyenne would paint dragonflies on their clothing, tipis, shelds and horses along with other natural beings thought to have special powers. However, the Cheyenne did not perceive the dragonfly as an insect. In their ordering of the cosmos they "considered dragonflies to be birds, both hatched form nymphs" (Moore, 1986, 178). Dragonflies are quick and hard to kill, so warriors often painted them on their clothes and during the second day of the Sun Dance ritual they are painted on the bodies of the dancers. The swarming nature of the dragonfly was also thought to be a warning of approaching enemies or a sign for the Cheyenne regarding which dire

Category: History - C