Birdtail Sioux

This basket was made by a member of the Birdtail Sioux Dakota Nation and gifted to the Moore Rattray family in the 1950s or earlier. Its beauty and function have been treasured for two generations and it will continue to be passed down in our family.

Iktomi, a prominent figure in Lakota folklore, embodies the essence of the trickster spirit. His manifestations vary, sometimes appearing as a spider, while other times assuming the guise of a man adorned in vibrant red, yellow, white, and black attire, along with intricate face paint. Often depicted as a trickster or clown, Iktomi’s character reveals profound cunning and slyness. According to some narratives, he is believed to be the spirit Skan, associated with the sky and recognized as the firstborn son of Inyan. While Iktomi is neither inherently good nor bad, his spirit serves as a valuable example akin to that of a teacher.

This necklace, made by Dorothy Francis of the Birdtail Sioux Dakota Nation, was donated to the Manitoba Museum in 1980 by Nan Shipley, to whom Dorothy gifted it directly.