FIRST FLOOR, SOUTHWEST PAVILION 23 
Indians.” Buffalo flesh was their chief food, and buffalo skin they made 
into garments. A buffalo paunch was used 
for cooking and buffalo horns were made into 
various implements of industry and war. The 
spirit of the buffalo was considered a power- 
ful ally and invoked to cure sickness, to ward 
off evil and to give aid in the hunt. Wherever 
the buffalo herds led the way, the Indians 
moved their tents and followed. With the 
extermination of the buffalo the entire life of 
the Plains Indians was revolutionized. 
In the center of this hall is a genuine Black- 
foot Indian tipi with a painting of an otter on 
one side. This tipi belonged to 
a medicine man of that tribe, 
who claimed to have miraculous 
assistance from the otter. 
There were numerous societies among the 
Plains Indians which included practically all 
grown Indians. A special dance 
was required prior to entering 
these societies. The costumes worn on such RIAA GAM UAGHS Groen 
oceasions are shown in this hall. There were the Indians of the Plains, 
(Gros Ventre) 
Blackfoot 
Tipi 
Societies 

other dances connected with their religious 
ceremonials, the best known and most important of which is the sun dance 
illustrated by a model at the left of the tipi. The sun dance 
was held annually in the early summer in fulfillment of a 
vow made during the preceding winter by some member of the tribe who 
wished a sick relative to recover. The dance involved great physical 
endurance and excruciating self-torture, lasting three days, during which 
Sun Dance 
time the dancers neither ate nor drank. 
At the entrance to the tower room is a genuine medicine pipe, held in 
awe by the Indians and dearly parted with; also the contents 
of a medicine pipe bundle. The contents of another medicine 
bundle, belonging to a learned man of the tribe (medicine 
man), together with the headdress which he wore when visiting the sick, is 
in a case near. ; 
The Plains Indians are noted for their picture writing on skins and for 
their quillwork which has now been superseded by beadwork. [See Guide 
Leaflet No. 15.] 
Medicine 
Pipe 
