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Among the Blackfoot people the
shield was the most cherished and protective possession. Above
all, it was a medicine object. Medicine shields have dream or
vision origins. Making a shield could be a lengthy process involving
several people, but it had to start with the hide taken from
the neck and shoulder of a bull buffalo. Once the hair was removed,
this thick hide was then placed over a fire pit filled with hot
stones and staked to the ground. The heat of the stones would
gradually shrink the hide until it was about one inch thick.
It was then painted and decorated to conform with the owner’s
dream. When the shield was not carried by the owner on a war
party, it was supported on a tri-pod outside the teepee on sunny
days, and as the sun moved, the tri-pod was turned so that the
face of the shield would always be in direct sunlight. |