Shera Starr

Cheyenne, a nation of Plains Indians that have inhabited Great Plains and lands of present-day Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, and Kansas since early 1800s. Today, they are federally recognised as two tribes: Southern Cheyenne of Oklahoma and Northern Cheyenne of Montana. They call themselves “Tsétsėhéstȧhese” (People) in Cheyenne language. At first European contact, Cheyenne was a tribe living in Minnesota. Their economy was based on bison hunting and collecting wild rice. By early 1700s they had been forced into Dakotas by other migrating tribes, where they embraced horse culture and introduced it to Lakota in 1730. They formed a close alliance with Arapaho from 1811. They played a role in pushing Kiowa further south and were themselves pushed further west by Lakota and Ojibwe. Cheyenne’s main group was comprised of ten bands stretching across Great Plains from South Dakota’s Black Hills to southern Colorado. These bands ultimately unified. Of all Plains tribes, Cheyenne were most notable for their war society, and they were powerful, skilled horseback warriors. Despite relatively small numbers, they were able to hold back or overcome their opponents and were of more concern to European pioneers travelling west than most other tribes combined (except, perhaps, for fearsome Comanche). War became a primary concern for Cheyenne; warriors were viewed by Cheyenne not as warmongers but as leaders and protectors. Their enemies were many, including Crow, Blackfeet, Shoshone, Plains Cree, Sioux, Pawnee, Nez Perce, Iowa, Omaha, Comanche, Plains Apache, Osage, and many others – but none more so than Kiowa and US Army. The name “Dog Soldiers” arose from Cheyenne legend that tells of dogs transforming into fierce and fearsome fighters. Dog Soldiers were one of six military societies of Cheyenne, and its most powerful, distinctive and aggressive. Founded in 1830s, they followed a very strict military creed and with extremely effective battle tactics, they commanded (and were accorded) respect similar to today’s Navy SEALs. Coming to prominence in 1800s as part of Indian resistance against American government’s expansionism, they were unequivocally hostile to their opponents. While other Cheyenne chiefs were open to diplomatic talks with white leaders, Dog Soldiers opposed all peaceful policies and chose war as their response. They came to undermine their own Chiefs’ authority and in 1860 refused to sign treaty that would have forced their tribe onto reservations. They were critical to Cheyenne resistance to expansion into their territory and were participants in many famous battles. Dog Soldiers were easily identifiable: they wore eagle-wing bone whistles suspended from a thong around their necks and large feather bonnets on which feathers of birds of prey were placed upright. Their belts were made from skunk skins. They were armed with bows and guns. Their songs were accompanied by a rattle in shape of a snake. Elite soldiers also wore “Dog Ropes”; these were sashes crafted from buffalo skin adorned with feathers, beads and porcupine quills and worn over right shoulder and under left arm. The very bravest of these warriors fringed their leggings with human hair (scalps). Soldiers were grouped with one leader per seven assistants, of whom four were chosen for their courage to lead in battle. In battle, each of these soldiers would stake his location to ground via his Dog Rope and remain pinned there until battle was over and another soldier released it. In 1865, Dog Soldiers were conducting various raids, particularly along Platte River. They were not controllable by their tribal Chiefs. In 1869, many of band were killed in Battle of Summit Springs. By mid-1870s, their power waned on great Plains as American expansionism overcame pushbacks. Society henceforth became a lot smaller and more secretive. To this day, society of Cheyenne Dog Soldiers still exists and some of these warriors continue to serve in US military. #archaeohistories

Fellas, make sure to find someone who looks at you the way Grace of Monaco did visiting JFK at the White House in 1961... 🇺🇸🇲🇨 This image captures a rare meeting of American royalty and European elegance, Grace Kelly, now Princess Grace of Monaco, visiting President John F. Kennedy at the White House in 1961. Grace, once Hollywood’s most luminous actress, had left her film career behind to marry Prince Rainier III in 1956. Her presence beside Kennedy, himself a cultural icon, symbolized the fusion of glamour, diplomacy, and idealism that defined early 1960s America. The visit reflected more than charm. Grace’s humanitarian work and Kennedy’s youthful optimism both represented a world still hopeful in the shadow of the Cold War. Her gaze, warm and admiring, seemed to capture the public’s own fascination with Kennedy, a man whose charisma and intellect embodied a new political era. Grace Kelly and Jackie Kennedy had met previously at social events in the 1950s. Both were admired as style icons, yet their paths diverged, one choosing monarchy, the other becoming America’s First Lady. © Vintage American Photos #archaeohistories