Dig It - 9/25/23

“That’s a Horse of a Different Color, you’ve heard about.” - Wizard of Oz, MGM 1939

Hello Fellow Seekers, and welcome to the Seeker in all of us. This is page 157 out of the Amidon Ledger, named after the town of Amidon, North Dakota, where it was found. The ledger was predominately drawn by the Lakota warrior and artist, “Jaw” or “C’ehu’ up” in Lakota. He was also known as “His Fight” or “Okaicizew Tawa.” Jaw was at the battle of Little Big Horn, amongst others.

This is a wonderful drawing depicting a Lakota warrior from the 1860-1870s period. His horse is an unnatural green with black legs and a black face. I wonder if the horse has been painted, which the Lakota sometimes did, turning the horse into a Magical Horse, possibly seen in a vision? The horse has an eagle feather tied into his forelock, commemorating an act of bravery and a scalp lock hangs from his bridle. The Horse’s tail is tied up for battle and also has an eagle feather tied at the base perhaps for protection or extra swiftness. The rider sits on a bear skin throw connecting him to the power and strength of the bear. He wears a red cape and green stroud or green dyed buckskin leggings. Capelets were popular during this period, some of which had magical images that were suppose to protect the wearer. In this case, the cape appears to be a big piece of red stroud, certainly showing the warrior’s wealth. The warrior’s hair is braided, he wears war paint and one eagle plume denoting bravery. The final touch is the carbine carried by the Warrior, the perfect weapon for shooting on horse back. This image was drawn during the early reservation period and is a nostalgic look back in time by “Jaw” to the “Good Old Days.” Watch Your Top Knot Seekers! Lonesome