Apsáalooke Women and Warriors at The Field Museum Chicago

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War shield made and owned by Wraps His Tail. This war shield is made of buffalo hide, the head of a crane, feathers, and natural earth clay pigments. The shield portrays one of two legendary twin boys, who were associated with stars and battled against monsters. The maker and owner of this shield, Chíischipaaliash, or Wraps His Tail, led a rebellion against the US government in the 1880s when the government placed restrictions on intertribal warfare and free movement.
© Field Museum | Photo: John Weinstein

Apsáalooke Women and Warriors

Through July 18, 2021

Apsáalooke Women and Warriors explores the history, values, and beliefs of this Native American community known for their horsemanship, artistic pursuits, and matriarchal ways of life, and honors the tradition of “counting coup”—performing acts of bravery. Visitors at both sites will learn about Apsáalooke origins, cultural worldviews, and the powerful roles that both women and warriors hold in the community through a unique mix of traditional objects and contemporary Native American pieces from the perspective of guest curator Nina Sanders with the support of the Apsáalooke Nation and Native artists and scholars.

The Field will feature seven never-before-displayed Apsáalooke war shields from the museum’s collection. Apsáalooke warriors made the war shields, while women were keepers of the shields. Visitors will have the ability to draw connections between the shield owners’ stories and the shields based on their craftsmanship and imagery. Along with the shields, the Field will also display horse regalia, a 9-foot-tall modern tipi, and over 20 works of contemporary art, including paintings, photography, unique beadwork, and high-end fashion. 

Apsáalooke Women and Warriors also highlights Apsáalooke gender and a look into an egalitarian society. The three genders include bía (woman), bachee(í) (man), and batee (two-spirited). Apsáalooke women are the keepers and influencers of the Apsáalooke way of life. Women, as well as men, were allowed to choose their partners. Men are responsible for protecting the woman so that she could carry on as a life-giver, culture keeper, and foundation of the family and community.

Apsáalooke Women and Warriors is jointly organized by the Field Museum and the Neubauer Collegium for Culture and Society at the University of Chicago.

Click the image below to watch a virtual tour of the Apsáalooke Women and Warriors exhibition.

Click the image below to watch "Apsáalooke Women and Warriors" - A #UChicago​ Neubauer Collegium & Field Museum Collaboration.

On the eve of the Apsáalooke Women and Warriors exhibition opening, the University of Chicago’s Big Brains podcast welcomed Neubauer Collegium Faculty Director Jonathan Lear, Apsáalooke scholar and curator Nina Sanders, and Field Museum senior curator Alaka Wali for a wide-ranging discussion about the project and the case study it provides for museums around the world that are rethinking their approach to the preservation and presentation of Indigenous material culture.

The Field Museum

1400 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605

 

Exhibition Highlights

War shield.
© Field Museum | Photo: John Weinstein

War shield.
© Field Museum | Photo: John Weinstein

War shield made and owned by Crazy Sister-In-Law. This war shield is made of buffalo hide, parts of a burrowing owl, and natural earth clay pigments. The shield was owned by a male warrior named Crazy Sister-In-Law (Búakwaalaaxish), who was one of the most respected leaders of his time during the early 1800s. He attained the high military rank of Pipe Carrier amongst the Apsáalooke. Although Apsáalooke shields were traditionally owned by men, shields are cared for by women. Women have the authority to tell the stories of the shield, clean them, and store them.
© Field Museum | Photo: John Weinstein

Celebration shirt (baleiíttaashtee) also known as a war shirt. This shirt is made of buckskin, ermine (weasel) tails, and Apsáalooke beadwork. Ermines were caught during the winter, as they turned white to blend with the snow and became hard to catch. These rare and valuable ermines distinguish the wearer’s virtue and value.
© Field Museum | Photo: John Weinstein

This is a war bonnet with a long tail, indicating it was worn by a chief — some war bonnets do not have tails; these are worn by warriors. This is a highly exclusive and ceremonially significant item that only chiefs or accomplished warriors have the right to wear. Although traditionally thought of as a piece worn only by men, in Apsáalooke culture, women can earn the right to wear a war bonnet.
© Field Museum | Photo: John Weinstein