Pueblo Buffalo Dance Kilt with Cones & Bag [SOLD]

New Mexico Pueblo Indians long ago organized buffalo hunts to the Great Plains. This was a group effort, individuals not being allowed to hunt alone, and the hunt was for providing necessary food and material—the buffalo were never killed for sport. Pueblo beliefs are that buffalo are medicine animals that carry away sickness, bring snowfall and winter cold. Often, this dance is performed on Christmas Day at several pueblos.

The songs sung during a Buffalo Dance describe the elaborate entrance of the dancers to the plaza and the team of drummers imitates hoof beats of a thundering herd of buffalo. The male dancers wear real buffalo headdresses to which prayer feathers are attached. Simulated snowflakes on the buffalo headpiece indicate that the buffalo exist in the snow country of the north.

This kilt is the one worn by the dancers during a Buffalo Dance. Tin cones suspend from the bottom of the kilt and chime in musical beat as the dancers move about. Originally, wood carvings were used on the kilts but changed to tin once tin cans became available through traders.

Provenance: This kilt was actually used in several pueblo dances. It is in excellent condition.