In the battle of the little gallery, she shows us headdresses, shields, drawings about the 1876e. Lsexplore how depictions of plains indians have changed time in newspaper articles, movies, television and wild west shows. We are standing in the central gallery of the National Museum of the American Indians exhibition entitled americans. This exhibit explores the nature of the American Peoples relation with American Indians, and its based on premise that most American People, that they have nothing to do with American Indians, and that American Indians have nothing to do them. And we are arguing that the exact opposite is true. Were arguing that americans and American Indians share a deeply history that this the history that shaped the United States of the americas and, that it has had a profound, Lasting Impact on Americans National consciousness and their popular culture. So were standing in the central, which we call indians everywhere here. And as you can see, this gallery is covered from floor to ceiling with images of america indians. These are images that at the american have made of American Indians. And this imagery pervasive in americans lives. It is so pervasive, in fact, that we call it the white of american lives. Most American People arent even conscious that. Everywhere you look in american, you will find imagery of American Indians. And we are that this imagery exist as evidence of the deeply entangled history that americans, American Indians share in explore the history that lies behind imagery. We explore three events in u. S. History the story of pocahontas, the of tears and the battle, the little bighorn. And today, were going to explore the battle of the little bighorn, the 1876 battle of the little bighorn was fought between the u. S. Cavalry and an alliance of and cheyenne, and also. This battle was a devastating defeat for the u. S. Army. It resulted in the death of general George Armstrong custer, who was a civil war hero. And in the death of 300 u. S. Calvary men. This was the most shocking event in u. S. History of the late 19th century. But within a very short period after this event, within than ten years, plains, indian warrior, those who were reviled by americans become, a symbol of the united of america. In this exhibition, we explore how it is that the the little bighorn we immensely important in the consciousness of americans over a century and we explore exactly how it is that imagery of the indian warrior emerged as the stereotypical American Indian and also as a symbol of the United States. All of this is to say we will be exploring how the image of the indian warrior was used to justify manifest destiny. So our gallery explores the battle of the little bighorn is divided two halves in one half. We look at lakota concepts of warfare and what the battle of little bighorn was about from their perspective. And on the other side of the gallery we look at how it is that the americans respond to the battle and how out of this battle emerged the image of the plains indian. So essentially there are three factors that led to the battle of little bighorn. Three immediate factors. One of them was the fact that at this time the us army rounding up American Indians and confining them to reservations, famously sitting bull in his followers are, not agreeing to live on reservations. The other thing thats happening is the black hills are being flooded by prospectors and miners because theres news that there is gold in the black hills. The third factor is that in 74, president sends in military expedition led by general custer. Its known as the 1874 black hills expedition. He sends this military expedition into the black hills to confirm whether or not theres gold there. Now, the issue is that the in the fort laramie t laka political sovereign over the black hills was clear only acknowledged beyond that the black hills are sacred to the lakota people and for the lakota as well as cheyenne. The respect and preservation of the hills is of paramount importance. So were looking at how lakota concepts of warfare relate to lakota concepts of leadership and how lakota concepts of fit into a lakota value system. And so, for example, to be for a man to distinguish himself as a leader in lakota society. He not only had to exhibit bravery, but also had to exemplify virtues. For example, with fortitude, general city. And these values had to be in him and be seen in him by others. For him to be respected as a leader. So in our in our exploration into lakota concepts of warfare, leadership, cultural values, we have on one side a blow up of a unvarnished lakota view of the battle. This mural, this ledger drawing behind me was created by a veteran. The battle called red horse. And it very clearly gets across the of the battle on the other side of the gallery. We have a muslin which was painted by another veteran of the battle of the little bighorn strike the cattle and in the muslin painting strike cattle portrays a way of life before the reservation period and a way of life that celebrates looks to virtues and ways of living in the world. Next, were to go look at that muslin painting painting. This painting was made by a man named strike the kettle strike the kettle was a friend of bull. After the battle of little bighorn, he fled up into canada with sitting bull. Stayed in canada with sitting bull for four years. At the time, this was a Major International incident. The United States wanted sitting bull back in the united on a reservation. Eventually, sitting bull and strike. The cattle returned to the United States. Sitting bull was killed by. Lakota Tribal Police when he was killed. Strike the cattle was with him. Sitting bull was surrounded by friends who were trying to protect him. Strike. The cattle was wounded in this incident. He on to paint this muslin, which is very unique for one thing, its unique because of size. Its 22 feet long. But the other thing, it does not resist represent one single event, which is usually these paintings do. And the museum brought out a life sized photograph of this muslin to the Pine Ridge Reservation and to work with elders to try to understand whats going on, this painting and what they say they think is going on is that a series of preparations leading up to a ceremony or event is probably taking place. And they point out that on the muslin are pairs of pipes and the pipe bowls and the stems are close together, signifying that a ceremony is about take place. They point out that there are two pairs of one eyes and these are used in the honkers ceremony which very loosely trends related is a making relation ceremony. Its a ceremony in which an individual will adopt a non kin member of the tribe. And in doing so establishes kin relation ships with that person. And what the lakota people pointed out is that many women are depicted on this muslin. So theyre saying that women are being honored and saying that the event that might be place is either a honka ceremony or, a womens coming of age ceremony. And they say this because both of events and in whats known as a give away and, they interpret this scene in the upper right hand corner as, a giveaway. So on one side are one, two, three, four, teepees with a womans in front of each teepee on other side are two distinctively painted teepees. Also with the woman standing in front of them and in the center are horses that are loaded with trappings and theyre saying these are going to be gifts that are given away to tribal members. They also suggest that all of the symbols underneath horses represent headdresses and that these headdresses will be given to very prominent members of the community. And so what lakota people all say are going on here is not only that strike the cattle was painting a lakota way life as it existed before reservation period. But that is also representing that is important the lakota hes representing lakota spirituality. Hes the importance of kin relations in ships. Hes representing importance of generosity as a cultural value. Strike the cattle was veteran of the battle of the little bighorn and he knew that the battle of the little bighorn as were all other battles the late 19th century in between lakota and the u. S. Army. They were fought, from the lakota perspective of because their entire way of life was under assault. Once they were to be confined to reservations, the United Government was determined to prohibit their religious. They were determined to force lakota to stop living their traditional way of life to become farmers, to adopt christy sanity, to send their children to schools, which meant to forbid them from speaking their own languages. So what strike the cattle has depicted here is everything that was under assault. Everything that was of importance to the lakota. This eagle feather headdress is placed right in the center of our gallery. And we worked with a lakota elder, a duane hollow horned bear, to the headdress for us. Duane Hollow Horn Bear is a direct descent, kind of a veteran of, the battle. And duane horned bear is also an educator. And has he explained to us. Eagle feather headdress is which have become a iconic american image. Eagle feather headdress is were actually only worn. Very few lakota men. And they were worn by men who once again had to exhibit certain lakota virtues, the virtues being bravery forged tude, wisdom, generosity and as duane hollow horned bear explained, when a man, an eagle feather headdress, he only have the best interests of his society in mind. He was wearing that each eagle that is on the was gifted to the man and it was gifted to him acknowledge some deed he performed. And as duane ho horn bear explains it. That deed could be as small as, sharing ones food with somebody or as large as saving somebodys life during battle. But the point is, each eagle represents a moment when that particular individual was honored by his. And so for a man to have a eagle feather headdress with a trail that is this long, obviously that he was somebody who revered in respect within his own society by own people. Well eagle feather headdresses are very closely associated with plains indian warriors, lakota warriors in particular. Theyre not the only style of headdress that lakota men wore. There were various of headdress. And so while this style of headdress have been worn by some individuals in the battle and we know this lakota, his own depictions of the battle, for example, red horses depiction of the battle. We do know that there were lakota men who did wear the eagle feather headdress in the battle of little bighorn. It was by no means worn by a great number of men. So the other objects in the exhibit are also objects are associated with. Their mens wore shirts and also shields. The shirts are showing the pride that leaders had in themselves. They are exquisitely decorated with porcupine quill work, with fringe, with horsehair ornaments, and in displaying the shields. Were explaining that the imagery on the shield represents the spiritual beings who protect warriors during battle. Warriors during battle and them with power. And were making the point that in the lakota belief system as a spiritual will only come in help the warrior, if that warrior is deemed worthy. So youre getting the idea in lakota society, an individual always to be able to demonstrate and their worthiness worthiness. The two sections of our gallery are divided a curtain which is covered with the imagery of newspaper cerage of the battle of the little bighorn. Were very interested in fact, that the news spread wrap and it spread rapidly throughout the enti a it spread rapidly throughout the entire country. Americans were celebrating the centennial of the United States. So this devastating news came just as americans, the country, were sharing in jubilation. So three things made the spread of the news possible. It was telegraph, the fact that there were for the first time in the history of the country when a major event occurred, newspapers virtually every territory and every county in every city, in every town. And it is also this time that newspapers have just started using headlines and, of course, sensational headlines. So all americans are caught up at same time in the news, the this devastating defeat isn and seared into national ciousness. Within just a few weeks after the battle occurs, so during the 1870s, this is the period when the United States army is trying to confine American Indians throughout the country onto reservations. Its a period when theres still ongoing battles and skirmishes, but its a period when the country is very confident that its westward expansion ism is virtually a and the country is going to be moving forward. So the battle of the little bighorn not by any means the first defeat utter of u. S. Cavalry officers, but it was the first time that there was such a huge defeat that could telegraphed literally throughout the country and that all would understand had happened. From an perspective at the same ti so the American People want to the names of the officers who died. They want to know their biography. They want to ke nas of the enlisted men. Then they want know exactly how the battle. It occurred. See a map of wh they want to know the soldiers were where the were. Then theyant know if any blunders occurred. But in no time does there ever seem to be any interest in understanding the battle. From the lakota perspective, or how this battle impacted lakota as far as americans were concerned. Lako were impeding west toward expansionism and thats as far as their examination into the event from a lakota perspective was going to go though in this of the exhibit were looking at how a National Shock the battle of the became a national myth. The winning of the frontier or the settling of the west. And so were looking at how both the news, the battle and the imagery, the plains, indian warrior literally rode away of of technology from 1876 into the 20th century. So we begin the telegraph and the spread of the new side of the battle via telegraph and newspaper offices. And then we look at the wild west show. Now, the west show phenomenon took. In 1883. This is. Seven years after the battle and with the wild west show that really start getting the romanticism of westward. Now the wild west shows coincided with the commercialization of entertainment in the United States. In other words, with the emergence of an entertainment industry. Meaning that the wild west shows had professional promoters who were in touch with theater managers throughout the country so they could have their wild west shown throughout the country. And in order to this, they also had to have investors, backers who would help provide funds up front so they could travel their and importantly so they could advertise them. So these wild west shows really were an Investment Opportunity for the entreprenes l buffalo bill and pawnee bill, and for their backers. Now, the thing about the wild west shows is that they were these equestrian extravaganzas that, very often included reenactments of the battle of little bighorn and. Quite often these reenactments were the finale of the battle so wild west show were advertised through huge color posters that were created through the latest printing technology. Its called chroma lithography. And these posters combine of bold, many bold colors along with words. And they were arguably the advanced form of mass communication. And in the late 19th century, invariably wild west posters depicted plains indian warriors as astride a horse wearing bun eagle feather headdress on murdering pioneers and cavalrymen. So just as the newspapers seared news of the battle into the consciousness of americas americans, the wild west show and the posters in particular seared the image of the plains indian warrior american National Consciousness and into popular culture. Now, the real significance of the wild west shows is that with them they are shaping american sense of history because in these shows, which are now even though just seven years after the battle theyre reenacting the battle. At this point, these shows and these reenactments become rousing fun for americans. But plains indian warriors are being presented as valiant, formidable foes. In other words, they are being presented as a foil to just defy manifest destiny. Westward expansionism of american settlers, which from an American Point of view, necessitated confining American Indians and subjugate American Indians while the wild west shows are still ongoing, the image of the plains indian warrior moves into the 20th century with the Technological Advancement and form of mass entertainment that is Motion Pictures and the battle of the little bighorn is portrayed in silent films, then in talkies all throughout the heyday. Hollywood, the 1940s and thirties, technicolor period of the fifties and well into the counterculture films. And with example, the silent films. In 1925, there is a film thats considered one of the great epics, the silent era and in this movie. Its made clear in the, in the written dialog that planes, indian warriors and lakota is in particular were impeding the quote of white men and western frontier. And so this story of American Indian stars ending in the way of progress continues to told throughout. As i say, the golden age of hollywood good, of the films of the fifties and even in the counterculture films, the counterculture films obviously begin to, reflect a little bit more so than ever before on what was actually going on in the west in the late 1800s. But the thing the films is that, of course, native people are still portrayed frozen in time, and thats a problem. There are no other people in the world that really others insist on locking them into a certain time period. So with the battle of the little bighorn with the wild west shows, and then with the Motion Picture industry you were getting of are an image of the plains indian warrior is stereotypical and that always frozen in time and with it all American Plains indian warrior wars are being presented always as as formidable foes. And this is carried on used by high schools and colleges across the country with their sports mascots. And its carried on in the us miliry who names helicopters and weapons after American Indian tribes. So on the hand, people might think that theyre being honorific. The point is and the aim of the show is get across that there is a history that lies behind this imagery and that this imagery was created and it was perpetua waited as a foil to justify manifest and to just defy confining indians to reservations and to subject them. Weve titled this section who really won the battle of little bighorn, and its complicated and. The reason why we say this is there seems to be a back and forth, seems that, well the lakota won the battle, but then theyre confined to reserve, but then they emerge as almost as celebrities and as a symbol of america. And so who did win the battle . And for us, where this rests is with fact that the lakota continue to fight to this day for the restoration of the black hills after the battle of little bighorn in 1877, the United States unilaterally took of the black hills. The black hills that were acknowledged as lakota territory in treaty of fort laramie. Ever since that happened, ever 1877 lakota have been trying they have been fighting to get control of the black hills. Their fight for the black hills it to the supreme court. And in 1980, the United States court ruled that, yes, the United States of america did illegally seize the black hills. However, they did not order the United States to return the land to lakota. They ordered for the lakota to be financially compensated to this. The lakota have not accepted this because the black hills remain important to religious beliefs. Their religious ceremonies, and so titled this section who won its conflict hated because this is an ongoing history that has yet to be played. You can watch this and other american artifacts programs by visiting our web site cspan dawgs tonight. Were very happy to welcome Erika Bolstad in conversation with Lydia Kiesling as a documentary filmmaker and journalist who has studied