The Thunderbird is a central aspect in the Lakota Sun Dance. The dance is a four day dance involving a complete fast in which the dancers offer their suffering for the health of future generations of their people.
The Sioux believed the Thunderbird was a powerful male force which could, with the opening of its eyelids, send forth lightning and, with the moving of its wings, create thunder. Thunder and lightning foretell rain which brings forth new life for all creation.
The Thunderbird skull is mounted on a stylized medicine wheel decorated with three porcupine quilled hoops made by Sioux artists and imitation eagle feathers. The horn covers are buffed and have leather wraps at their base. This medicine wheel represents the four cardinal directions and all of the creation which dwells there. The south represents innocence, the east illumination, the north wisdom, and the west introspection. The hoops represent the sacred hoop of life from birth, to maturity, to death, to rebirth here or in the spirit world.
The male buffalo represents by association all of the male procreative powers of the universe itself. Its skull represents in tangible form the Great Spirit who oversaw the well-being of the tribal members in the physical world and in the spiritual world.
Approximately 38" in diameter
Made by Native American and non-Native American artists.
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