CHEYENNE WARRIORS.

While hunting was a male activity woven into the interests of the family, fighting was an activity institutionalized in the organization of the tribes’ warrior societies. They were centered on the common experience of the members as warriors, with rituals glorifying and enhancing that experience, and with duties and services performed on behalf of the band. All were focused on war in their spirit, purpose, regalia and ritual with any religious features having their foundation in the need to influence the supernatural powers to lend their aid in battle. Sources differ as to the actual number of the warrior societies.

CHEYENNE RED SHIELD, BUFFALO WARRIOR SOCIETY

This society numbered between 100-200 warriors. Originally all members wore their hair long. The buffalo headdress with the attached horns and the carrying of the shield with the tail was what led to the name “Bufalo Warriors”. Every member carried a red painted buffalo hide shield. Round “like the sun” it was made from the buffalo’s hips with the tail left attached. In battle, some warriors had medicine objects attached to the shield which had been dictated by visions. Whenever the warrior swung it in a circle before the enemy it was believed that the enemy’s arrows would hit neither man nor the shield.

Every member carried a red painted buffalo hide shield. Round “like the sun” it was made from the buffalo’s hips with the tail left attached. In battle, some warriors had medicine objects attached to the shield which had been dictated by visions. Whenever the warrior swung it in a circle before the enemy it was believed that the enemy’s arrows would hit neither man nor the shield.

Every warrior of the society carried the red shield and a lance. The red shield lance was about eight feet long, straight, with a stone or trade steel point, and was painted entirely in red. The warriors dressed alike with a buffalo horn headdress. If the warrior had counted coups the horns were painted bright red. The warriors' bodies were painted either red and white stripes, or white all over. 

Scale: 1/30
Material: Pewter alloy and synthetic fibers
Released Date: June 2026