Warriors of the Plains

Ulster American Folk Park is currently hosting an exhibition that charts 200 years of Native North American honour and ritual, including a unique collection of fascinating objects, costumes and photographs.

Fragile material including weapons, ceremonial costume, ledger drawings and modern regalia of contemporary Native Americans (or ‘modern warriors’) feature in the exhibition. Also included are old photographs as well as a series of pictures of war dances among contemporary Native Americans.

Exhibition highlights include a colour portrait of contemporary Assiniboine dancer Kevin Haywahe by Iroquois photographer Jeff Thomas and three rare lithographs by painter George Catlin (ca. 1830s) illustrating historical aspects of Plains warriors’ life and their appearances.

The ceremonial aspect of warrior societies, focusing on the link between ritual, tribal identity and war is explored through ceremonial rattles, dance gear, shirts, moccasins and a full modern Pow wow regalia.
 

Warriors of the Plains is on display at Ulster American Folk Park in Castletown, Omagh, until 19 February 2012. You can find out more about the exhibition on the museum's website.

Why not take a look at some of our other image galleries?