Native leather, porcupine quills, rawhide, paint, hoof and horsehair ornaments

Kay Koeninger and Joanne M. Mack, "Native American Art from the Permanent Collection" (Claremont: Galleries of the Claremont Colleges, 1979), 48 (illustrated/bw) fig. 137.
See Kroeber paper on the Arapaho.
See George Dorsey papers from the Field Museum of Natural History.

There were numerous societies for the ceremonial performance of dance and music among the Arapaho and other Plains peoples. Men advanced through the different levels of a dance society as they aged. The stage with the oldest members was considered to be the most sacred. There was only one women's dance society, and its members were usually young women, although there was no restriction placed on age. The dance performed by this society was a four-day event, with the older women acting as leaders. The dance movements, which included whistle-blowing, imitated the hunt and behavior of the buffalo.

This belt was worn during the woman's dance. The belts of the principal dancers were painted white representing the buffalo bull, while the yellow pigmentation represents the buffalo cow. The quilled hoop at one end may be symbolic of the four directions. During the motion of dancing, the hoof ornaments functioned as a rattle.

This object has the following keywords:

• Buffalo
• Ceremonies
• Dancing

• Overall Dimensions: 12 1/4 x 29 3/4 in. (31.12 x 75.57 cm) Measured by Hudson, Karen

This object has the following bibliographic references:

• Native American Art from the Permanent Collection. Native American Art from the Permanent Collection Galleries of the Claremont Colleges. Claremont, CA, 1979
  Page Number: 48, Figure Number: 137

This object is a member of the following portfolios: