Made and painted by John Groeneveld ( Non-Native
American ).
The meaning and owner of the
shield, see below.
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The meaning of the shield:
The Morning Star, a symbol frequently
used in the culture of the Native Americans of
the Plains. They honored it as a sign of courage
and purity.
The Ghost Dance Religion associated it as a
symbol of the coming renewal of tradition. Other
spirits are sometimes represented as stars.
The crescent moon is visible between the stars.
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The owner of the shield:
Turning Bear was a Chief of the Oglala
Sioux, and was a signatory of the 1876 treaty. He
was the leader who led about 1700 people from
Rosebud to Pine Ridge. The soldiers cut off their
route, so they headed into the
"badlands" of South Dakota. They were
rounded up there, and on the return to Pine
Ridge, were massacred at Wounded Knee. Turning
Bear survived.
Another reference to Turning Bears life comes
from an interview done with Red Feather in 1930.
His sister was married to Crazy Horse.
A group of scouts was sent out to talk Crazy
Horse into coming to the reservation. Finally
they succeed. When he arrived, they put him in a
little house. Red Feather and White Calf sneaked
around back and looked in the window. There was
an excited discussion, and one of the scouts came
out shouting that the house was actually was the
jail. Crazy Horse drew his knife and ran outside.
Little Big Man grabbed him, and held his hands
behind his back. The soldier guarding him
bayonetted him in the kidneys, and he died later
that evening with his father, Spider, by his
side.
Turning Bear was one of the Rosebud group that
had convinced Crazy Horse to come there. Red
Feather asked him why he and the others didn't
stay with him, indirectly blaming him and the
others for the death of Crazy Horse.
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Used materials:
Willow hoop
Rawhide
Imitation eagle feathers
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Click on images
for larger view
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Turning Bear
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