Tashina Red Hawk, Sicangu Lakota riding Tokala
buffalo, and fight enemies. Horses made the journeys
possible to obtain valued goods and cultural treasures.
Therefore, horses which were good riding horses were
considered symbols of wealth, status and prestige.
Because many dancers, both men and women, hold the
horse nation in high esteem and respect, they incorporate
their personal relationship with the horse in many forms
into their regalia. One of my relatives beaded himself riding
his horse into his fully beaded vest. I personally have used
the Lakota geometric design of the horse into one of my
girls’ northern traditional buckskin dresses.
Ozana: And finally, you have two Paint mares. Why
Paints?
Beverly: Back in 2014, after I retired from my career, I
traveled back home to Standing Rock to attend a program
called “Sung Nagi Kici Okiju: Becoming One with the Spirit
of the Horse”. Becoming One with the Spirit of the Horse
is not a horsemanship model, it’s a way of life. Our
ancestors weren’t just good horseman, they were good
relatives to the horse nation. It was during that time I fell
in love with Midnight Dream. She was only 6 months old
and she was calling out to me in a spiritual sense. I’ve been
told by my elders, that you don’t chose the horse they chose
you. A year and half later her sister Lakota Spirit (Nagi) was
born and my family knew that the sisters needed to be
together. The Stallion is “Walks with Thunder” (a bold
Black/White Overo) has been described as a horse that a
Chief would have rode. The Becoming One with the Spirit
of the Horse was created by Jon Eagle, Sr. to create a path
to healing for our people through the spirit of the horse.
Our family is blessed to have created a relationship with
two very beautiful paint mares.
For more information about Jon’s program please check
out his website at
www.becomingonewiththespiritofthehorse.com.
I hope you enjoyed this exchange as much as I enjoyed my
day at the Gathering of Nations. Hope to see some of you
in 2020.
Visit the author / photographer online: