As the frontier was pushed westward across the mighty Mississippi, pioneers were faced with a terrifying
new enemy - the fearsome Western Indians. These tough rulers of the Plains adn Rocky Mountains
wrote fresh chapters in American History.

This Western Warrior is dressed in typical Plains finery. He wears Hard Soled Plains Moccasins - hard
soled to deal with the rough and rocky terrain - fully fringed Western Style Leggings and a wool breech clout.
His ceremonial buckskin War Shirt is decorated with long sweeping fringe and a wool rectangle at the throat.
Around the warrior's waist is a tack belt; a tack sheath holds his knife. His trade wool shooting bag and powder
horn strap are of a style unique to the Plains. The feathers in his hair denote honors in war and
standing in his people. As a Plains Warrior grew in status he often acquired several wives.
Polygamy meant more hands for the multitude of tasks in day to day life. But the Western Indian Wife was not a
mere drudge. The Lodge was hers, she was honored for her skill at crafts and her wisdom sought in council and ritual.
These two, possibly sisters, are plains Indian women at their best. One wears buckskin Prairie Boots, with a medium
height cuff and a double fringed Classic style dress, decorated with trade wool and beads at the throat.
A fringed buckskin belt pouch holding sewing tools hangs from her tack belt. The other woman wears
the taller cuffed Woman's Boot and a yoked Cheyenne style dress decorated with thong fringe. She wears the
tack decorated belt and knife sheath beloved of the Plains people.

The two women are displaying - much to their husband's pleasure - a newly finished magnificent Chief's Gun Cover
of fine buckskin with trade wool and beading.