Mystic Warriors of the Plains : The Culture, Arts, Crafts and Religion of the Plains Indians

by Mails, Thomas E.

• ISBN13: 9781569245385
• ISBN10: 156924538X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-01-06
• Publisher: Perseus Books Group

Summary

The Mystic Warriors of the Plains offers readers an extraordinarily detailed view of the daily activities of the peoples of the North American plains, including the Sioux, Cheyenne, Pawnee, Nez Perce, Comanche, and many others. Used by Kevin Costner as a resource text for the motion picture Dances with Wolves, this is an extraordinarily in-depth examination of the day-to-day lives of the North American plains Indians, with over one thousand illustrations and thirty-two four-color plates. Covering everything from social customs, personal qualities, and government to types of weaponry, achievement marks, and the training of Indian boys, The Mystic Warriors of the Plains is a comprehensive encyclopedia of Plains Indian lore that will delight and inform everyone interested in understanding the native peoples of the Plains. "Magnificently and accurately ... conveys both the tragic ironies and splendors of the rich plains civilization." Newsweek "Fascinating detail that gives a better idea of the plains people than mere description can do...."Navajo Times

Author Biography

Thomas E. Mails is the author of eleven books on Native American history and culture, including Cherokees, Pueblo Children of the Earth Mother, Secret Native American Pathways, and Fools Crow. He lives with his family in Canyon Lake, California

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. ix
Origin, Distribution, and Nature of the People of the Plains	p. 1
Manner of Daily Life	p. 17
Social Customs	p. 36
Personal Qualities	p. 68
Form of Government	p. 77
Religion--Supernatural Beliefs	p. 87
Religion--the Practices of Medicine	p. 107
Religion--Visions and Personal Power	p. 129
Religion--Purification	p. 152
Religion--Thanksgiving	p. 158
Religion--Death and the Life After	p. 176
The Buffalo and the Horse	p. 187
An Overview of Arts and Crafts	p. 244
Painting	p. 261
Quillwork and Beadwork	p. 283
Achievement Marks	p. 294
Clothing	p. 324
Hair Styles, Jewelry, and Headdresses	p. 357
Bows, Arrows and Quivers	p. 397
Lances, Knives, Clubs, Hatchets, and Guns	p. 442
Shields	p. 486
The Birth and Training of the Boy	p. 510
The Mature Warrior on the Field of Action	p. 550
The Redistribution and Decline of the People of the Plains	p. 579
Afterword	p. 593
Notes	p. 595
Specific Sources	p. 601
Bibliography	p. 603
Index	p. 609
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