Buffalo Dance
Buffalo Dance, watercolor, c. 1930s
Velino Shije Herrara, aka Ma-Pe-Wi, (Zia, Pueblo, 1902-1973)
Museum Transfer, Museum of Native American Culture, 1992 (3621.3)
Responses from Visitors, 2009
One day the cheifs daughter was out picking some corn for her trib for the big night when she saw a male from a different tribe he was from the african tribe he was accrossed the field from her shooting little animals for his trib. The cheif had warned his daughter about talking to other tribs he told her that they are no good they only cause trouble so stay way from them. And the young males father had told him the same thing but they didnt listen so the male came up to the cheifs daughter and asked her for her name and she told him it was the sneaky one, and he said that his name was dangerouse one so they started talking and they didnt relize how late it was getting. Until she looked at the sun and she said that she had to go and he said wate when will i see u agian and she said here tomorrow the same time i have to come and pick more corn. So they said good bye. The next day they meet but this time they wernt so lucky the cheif followed his daughter and she got in so much trouble.
—Princess Icy, Age: 17, moses lake/ wa, June 3, 2009 at 11:54 AM
I vision that the artist is trying to show an indian culture through painting. I see the indians on the bottom right hand corner are a indian tribe that travel and live off the land they pass. As they pass they meet other Indian heritages along their travels which they trade goods and bargain items they carry. After they are done they go traveling again because they are in search for a new land. Along tne way they might run into hostile indians in whcih they are trained to fight with bows to protect themself or attack other for what they want. Then in the end when they find their new land they will settle in it and raise a family and train them like their ancestors did lomg ago. While they are young they learn from the elders but when they grow they will repeat what their grandparents did and continue this cycle for eternity because the painting is made like a circle showing that this is an eternal process. This is what I think the artist was thinking at the time he/she was painting it
—Native Americans, Age: 17, Moses Lake WA, May 1, 2009 at 2:13 PM
Due to the shortage of rain and food the watcha tribe was beginning to become desperate the buffalo had moved and they were unable to follow. After three long days of rain dancing the gods hadn't blessed them with water, so they tryed to bring the buffalo back to them by dancing. They stomped their feet as hard as they could and they snorted hot air as the buffalo often did, but their prayers and dances had not payed off. After one week of not having a food and water source the watcha tride died out and left no historical remains.
—chuck norris, Age: 16, moses lake WA, May 1, 2009 at 1:54 PM
different families gathered together to have a celebration for the the chiefs daughter and the chosen son, everyone gathers around to see the great occasion and to witness history being made in their own clan, the group gets bigger and bigger and the dancers dance faster and faster while the music is gett ing louder and louder, when all went silent for the princess to come out to meet her husband the cheif takes her hand and his. they look into each others eyes and they kiss
—high school student, Age: 17, MOSES LAKE, May 1, 2009 at 8:20 AM