BBC - A History of the World - Object : Ghost Dance Shirt

Replica Ghost Dance Shirt © Glasgow City Council (Museums)

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The original shirt was used in the Battle of Wounded KneeThe Ghost Dance religion was one of the largest Native American movements of the 19th century and was a response to years of warfare, oppression, disease and poverty suffered at the hands of white settlers. The Lakota believed that the Ghost shirts were supposed to protect the wearers against harm.

In 1892, Glasgow's City Industrial Museum obtained a number of items from George C. Crager, interpreter for the Lakota performers at the Buffalo Bull Wild West Show in Dennistoun. Crager claimed that these objects had been taken from the battlefield of Wounded Knee, South Dakota, 29th December 1890 including a Lakota Ghost Dance shirt.

In 1999 this shirt was returned to the Lakota. Marcella le Beau, a descendent of Rain in the Face, a noted Lakota warrior, was involved in the negotiations. In honour of Glasgow's work she made and presented Glasgow City Council with a replica Ghost Dance shirt.

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1. At 11:21 on 2 May 2010, Steven Lewis Simpson wrote:
Your use of the term Battle of Wounded Knee should be corrected to the Massacre at Wounded Knee as it was only credited as being a battle by the 7th Cavalry to try and assume some honour around what was a very cowardly massacre. I was with those that travelled to Wounded Knee from Scotland to see the shirt return home. It was a very moving time. For those interested in another collaboration between Scotland and the people of Pine Ridge where Wounded Knee is located should check out the movie Rez Bomb that is now available on DVD from amazon etc.
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