Begin with the contemporary. I am standing here next to a magnificent piece of sculpture by the noted artist, alan hauser, who was apache. He was born in oklahoma. He was a descendent of geronimos band, who moved to after ther the band were captured. He later became a terrific see, this as you can particular piece is a native american on horseback and that is truly the story of native americans in the Southern Plains region in the panhandle especially. Available, incame the 1600s, particularly the comanches and some of the apache people, they were able to obtain horses from the traders in santa fe, stealing some of them as well. They were able to utilize the environment much more efficiently, because they could cover much longer distances. The bison hunting culture really became the strong suit, the highlight of the area and it became a culture of mobility. What i am going to do today is share with you some of the objects associated with that kind of mobility. Thatts such as clothing were beaded with glass beads obtained through trade. What i would like to do is to begin by looking at some moccasins, because moccasins are really a diagnostic feature of plains indian people. Everybody understands your got to wear something on your feet, and each tribe throughout the planes in the historic time, and that i mean the 1800s into the early 1900s, every tribe had its own distinctive style. Be it the way they were cut and shaped, and also decorated. Some folks would beat them completely on the top. Others would also incorporate porcupine quills on them. Here on the Southern Plains, quite frequently such as what you can see on this particular pair, that could be either comanche or others, they were partially beaded. But also decorated with green paint in this particular instance. Wonderful tin combs that would make a very pleasing sound as one would be walking. Oftentimes are was Little Leather fringe put on there. People used to say, this is to obscure the tracks as they are walking but that is not necessarily the case. These people didnt spend much time walking. They were on horseback, so really what it was was that fringe was decorative to hang off of the back of the moccasin as the person was on horseback they weretter off as galloping on horseback. It was purely anesthetic kind of thing. What i would like to do is to move through here and then show you some other very specific kinds of things that were characteristic of the Southern Plains folks like the comanche. The moccasins that we were looking at a moment ago were all made for men, but for women it was generally boots so that you with thesemoccasins on them. Sometimes they were made in one piece. In this instance, it is two pieces. You can see the wonderful the maroonesigns in used, those are actually for decorative purposes as well. Beads on the Southern Plains they really took beadwork to an enormously fine art, and often times it showed up in the objects that were associated with the native american church. Here are some of these kinds of things. There with theh figure in the center of it. , each onebeads painstakingly put on. Carried that people into the teepees during the ceremonies and the rattles that with. Sed to keep time each one of those handles is wonderfully beaded. In some instances, as we see here, it is just wrapped with red instead of beadwork. All were using and adapting the different types of materials they had with them. Plains, in this area of the planes, what we have is a veneration for children. Not only do you see toys such as this doll and the small cradles seen as toys,ere but instructional toys. Girlsere teaching young how to care for their own young when that time came. Magnificentse, this cradle that we see here, this is a fullsized cradle. Fully beaded. It is very interesting to note that oftentimes, there would be a completely different sign from one side of the cradle to the other. Even a complete shift in color as well as designs. Lateis very typical of the 1800s, early 1900s for comanche cradles that had these wonderful wooden frames, sometimes painted. This one also has elaborate decoration in terms of the caps added as well. Do is would like to also to show you probably our most significant single object in our native collection here at the panhandle Plains Historical museum. It is a headdress that belonged to d comanche chief. Parker was the son of a white captain who rose through Comanche Society to ultimately become the leading chief. He was involved with the red area,war along this against the United States government as the native people were being pushed out. He was considered to be a great leader. Withs also involved battles of adobe walls in 1864 and 1874. He lived well into the 20th century and ultimately became the incredible advocate for the comanche people and other tribes. He was in an early leader of native american church. Him is a photograph of around 1900 or so. His full glory as an adult wearing his finest clothing. Is really as here remarkable example of these kinds of objects that were worn by men of high rank and high status. The golden eagle feathers topped with horsehair on them. And thewoolen cap, wonderful metallic on the brow. Many of the people of the comanche nation, a full trailer like this would have signified great importance, highranking status for anyone who had the opportunity to obtain one, to own one and earned the right to wear it. Is one of the great pieces that we have in the collection here. We are very grateful to the families of parker, who continued to come and visit and to examine this piece as part of their family heritage. Is toe are trying to do not only educate the public about historic native american art and here on the panhandle, we are looking to two tribes in particular. Recently our staff traveled to amarillo, texas to learn about its history. To watch more video, visit cspan. Org. You are watching American History tv, all