ABSTRACT
The tangible creations of Plains Indian people have been much admired for their ingenuity, color, and beauty. Indian houses, clothing, tools, weapons, crafts, arts, and other things made and modified for their survival and comfort have enjoyed a great deal of attention, and often non-Indians become interested in learning more about Indian cultures after an initial fascination with Indian material life. Besides appealing to the senses, Plains material items reveal a great deal about Indian people’s capacity for invention, their deep understanding of the natural world, and, because so many items have symbolic value, their sense of place in the social and spiritual worlds too.
