Royal Ontario Museum

Out of the Vaults

You won’t believe what’s coming out of the ROM’s vaults!

The Royal Ontario Museum delves into its vast storerooms to bring notable and rarely-seen objects on view for a limited time through Out of the Vaults.  This alluring exhibition series continues through 2009 with more exceptional artifacts to be unveiled.

CHIEF SITTING BULL'S HEADDRESS

Beginning September 13, 2008
View Chief Sitting Bull’s headdress, shirt and other personal artifacts on display for the first time in thirty years. Sitting majestically in the Daphne Cockwell Gallery of Canada: First Peoples, Sitting Bull’s war bonnet dates back to around 1875. It is adorned with golden eagle tailfeathers, weasel skins and beadwork. Such a war bonnet embodies sacred powers, while representing its owner’s war achievements.

Sitting Bull was born around 1832 and was a member of the Hunkpapa division of the Lakota Sioux. He rose to become a great leader and holy man, gaining notoriety for his role in the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876. After this event, he and his people gained asylum in Canada, staying in southern Saskatchewan for some four years.

Podcasts

Chief Sitting Bull’s Headdress
September 24, 2008
Chief Sitting Bull was a great leader, a holy man and a central character in North American history. Discover how Sitting Bull's headdress, shirt and other personal artifacts were prepared for display in the Daphne Cockwell Gallery of Canada: First Peoples.

Video Podcast (52.5MB, 4m 06s)
Written Transcript (PDF)

 

 

 

 

 

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