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A Native American Prayer
Oh Great Spirit, whose voice I hear in the winds, and whose breath gives life to all the world
-hear me-
I come before you, one of your children.
I am small and weak.
I need your strength and wisdom.
Let me walk in beauty and make my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunset.
Make my hands respect the things you have made, my ears sharp to hear your voice.
Make me wise, so that I may know the things you have taught my People.
The lessons you have hidden in every leaf and rock.
I seek strength not to be superior to my brothers,
but to be able to fight my greatest enemy, myself.
Make me ever ready to come to you, with clean hands and straight eyes,
so when life fades as a fading sunset, my spirit may come to you without shame.

Ceremonial Shields

A war shield was a brave's most valuable possession-it protected him in battle and was the source of his medicine or spirit power. The thickest rawhide from the buffalo's shoulder was used to make the war shield. When properly constructed, it protected the owner from spears and arrows, and caused musket balls to ricochet harmlessly away. The shield was painted with the warriors "medicine" symbols and assured his success in battle.

The Plains Indians fought most of their battles from horseback. Therefore an average diameter for the shield was about 18 inches. the war shield was used only for fighting and when not in use, it hung over the owner's bed or on a tripod in front of his tepee. If the warrior was killed in battle, he took his medicine shield with him to the other side; after placing his body on the burial scaffold, his friends and relatives placed the other side: after placing his body on the burial scaffold, his friends and relatives placed the shield on the deceased warrior's chest.

The ceremonial shield resembled the war shield but, was for ornamentation only and therefore made with much light materials. Designs were very personal. Spiritual in nature, and extremely powerful to the warrior, One must remember the American Indian was an extremely superstitious individual. When fighting to defend his family, clan or tribe. he fought with no regard for his personal safety. But a warrior would go an offensive raid, such a horse stealing foray, only if his medicine was very strong. If he determined his medicine was weak, he stayed at home.

Descriptive Symbols

Tepee _Temporary Home
Hogan - Permanent Home
Lasso — Captivity
Eagle Feathers - Chief
Hopi Horse - Journey
Saddle Bags - Journey
Cross - Paths Crossing
Headdress - Cermonial Dance
Enclosure - Ceremonial Dance
Days & Nights - Time
Cactus - Sign or the Desert
Gila Monster - Sign of the Deser
t Butterfly - Everlasting life
Running Water — Constant Life
Morning Stars - Guidance
House of Water - Cave Spring
Characteristics

Arrowhead — Alertness
Buffalo Eye Eye - Alertness


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