The Indians of the plains gathered food, farmed the land and raised livestock. But their lives were mainly organized around hunting. As they awaited the news of huge buffalo herds approaching, the Indian hunters put on capes and masks.
They performed dances that imitated the various stages in a hunt as a way to attract their prey. The dances sometimes went on for several days, until they got word that the buffalo were coming.
Take a look at me. The line running down the middle represents a spider's web, symbolizing luck in hunting and in war. On one side, you can see a deer-hunting scene. The other side depicts a buffalo dance performed by masked men with capes.
