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Sacred Bow-Racing Ceremony

Ethnographic Notes

The Sacred Bow Racing, the investiture ceremony of Black Road's elite warrior society (compare Bad Heart Bull, 1967: 182- 84; Blish, 1934; & Wissler, 1907: 51-52). In a preparations tipi, shown at center, the candidates' bodies were painted entirely red, with blue lightning streaks emanating from their eyes, and black buffalo beards were suspended from each ankle. Blowing on an eagle-bone whistle, and carrying a bow-lance, they ran at full speed from the center tipi, following the complicated course indicated by the dotted footprints. The area shown, filling the entire center of the Oglala summer camp circle, might have been a mile in diameter, so the “race” depicted was nearly four miles long.


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Provenance

Private owner. Provenance provided by 3rd generation descendants of Charles A. Wilkins on a typed note taped ...

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Document Info
Plate No: 64
Page No: --
Media: pencil and colored pencil
Dimensions: 6.5 x 7.25 inches
Custodian
Personal Collection
Artist
Black Road
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