Subject: dog soldier

Culture: Cheyenne

Setting: Plains Wars, Great Plains 19thc

Object: headdress

* Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology > Wiyohpiyata - Lakota Images of the Contested West

"NORTHERN CHEYENNE EAGLE TAIL FEATHER BONNET WITH TRAILER

ca. 1870

'War bonnets were not worn by all warriors. In fact, there were only a few such distinguished men in each warrior society of our tribe. The act of putting on a war bonnet meant a claim of special accomplishment. The wearer was supposed never to ask mercy in battle. If some immature young man pretended to such high standing before it seemed to his companions that he ought to do so, he was shamed into awaiting his proper time. War chiefs and tribal chiefs ordinarily were war bonnet men, but this was not a requirement for these positions.' -- Wooden Leg, Northern Cheyenne (1858-1940)"