SACRED OBJECTS, SACRED SYMBOLS, AND SACRED LAND
Medicine Shields
Medicine shields were used by Native American men for spiritual as well as physical protection. Physical safety was aided by the size of the shield, and the material used to make it, which was a hard rawhide from the hump of the buffalo. The rawhide was cured, making it dense, so that no arrow could penetrate it. Bullets from early flint rock rifles didn’t always go through the rawhide, although more powerful bullets did.
For spiritual protection, the shields were circular, and decorated with power symbols and objects of personal significance. They might draw a picture of an animal or an insect that they felt close to, for instance, a buffalo, an eagle, or an ant. This would come to the man in a vision or be given to him by someone else. The animal or insect would give the warrior further power and protection by allowing him to see where the enemy was. Sometimes parts of animals would be attached as well, such as eagle feathers. Smaller shields, known as replica shields, were made by the men too, and worn for spiritual protection from evil.
Native American artists Tchin explains the importance of medicine shields as power symbols: "I think all people understand the power of things. We understand that we, as human beings, are somewhat weak, and so we need other things to help us."
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