The Lance and Shield Buffalo Robe, Tokeya Waci U Richardson

This buffalo robe depicts the “Lance and Shield” dance, which historically honored a warrior by reenacting feats in battle. Today, a contemporary version of this dance is performed at powwow competitions as a tie breaker. On the robe, each dancer holds a weapon and a shield. The buffalo tracks show the movement of the dancers and the triangular designs around the perimeter represent tipis, which are used by the artist as a stand in for spectators.