BRAVE BUFFALO'S DREAM One's Medicine is a very sacred thing--not to be
discussed lightly. or with just any person. Some people never reveal to
anyone the details of their personal spiritual power. Here is the story of a
Medicine Dream that was told by an old Sioux Medicine Man named Brave
Buffalo <Tatan' ka ohi' tika) shortly before his death: When I was 10 years
of age I Looked at the land and the rivers. the sky above. and the animals
around me and could not fail to realize that they were made by some great
power. I was so anxious to understand this power that I questioned the trees
and the bushes. It seemed as though the flowers were staring at me. and I
wanted to ask them "Who made you?" I Looked at the moss-covered stones; some
of them seemed to have the features of a man. but they could not answer me.
Then I had a Dream. and in my Dream one of these small round stones appeared
to me and told me that the maker of All was Wakan' Tanka <Great Spirit of
the Sioux). and that in order to honor Him I must honor His works in Nature.
The stone then said that by my search I had shown myself worthy of
supernatural help. and that it would provide for me this help. Brave Buffalo
found a physical specimen similar to his Dream rock. which he covered with
an Eagle down feather and wrapped in a piece of buckskin. Its presence
reminded him of the strength promised in the Dream. Such objects may be
attached to a buckskin thong and worn around the neck. Several Medicine
objects may be included within one wrapping. When too many objects
accumulate. or the size of an object becomes too large. a fringed buckskin
bag or a cylindrical rawhide case may be used as a container. Wrapped with
pieces of gaily colored cloth. silk neckerchief. or finely-tanned furs. the
objects may become part of a Medicine Bundle. Such Bundles are never
unwrapped with-out purpose. pipe smoking. incense burning. songs. and
prayers. They are generally hung. along with other Medicine objects. on a
wooden tripod by the owner's bed. Incense is burned by them daily. To the
right is a Crow man. from Eastern Montana. He smokes his pipe next to the
tripod that holds his sacred things. His dress reflects his spiritual
creativeness . For each item he has intimate feeling.