Description
A Song for the Horse Nation: Horses in Native American Cultures is a celebration of the importance of horses to the cultures of Native Peoples of North America. The National Museum of the American Indian publication contains numerous photographs and artifacts that document this connection between horses and Native Peoples. Through essays, poetry, and archival photographs the editors of this slim volume convey the deep connection between the horse and Native Americans. A brief history of the horse in North America is provided by Herman J. Viola. The importance of the horse in Lakota culture is documented in the personal essay by Emil Her Many Horses. Linda R. Martin describes the way Indians and horses have been stereotyped in popular culture. At the heart of the book are the descriptions of horse trappings, equipment, and ornaments. Numerous images of horses in everyday life are shown in colour photographs of Plains garments, robes, and bags. Joe Medicine Crow, a World War ll veteran, recounts his capture of horses from German soldiers during the war. While most of the images reflect the strong connection between the Plains Nations (Blackfoot, Lakota, Cheyenne, Cree, and Assiniboine) and their horses, two photographs depict Seneca farmers hauling hay in a horse-drawn wagon and a Seneca family riding in a horse-drawn carriage. Poems by contemporary writers celebrate the emotional connection to horses. Works by Sherman Alexie, Luci Tapahonso, and Linda Hogan combine with songs collected by Frances Densmore to extend the artistic expression of horse culture within the Native experience.