Annie Little Warrior facts for kids

This drawing, "Women and Horses," was made by Annie Little Warrior. It's an example of ledger art.

Annie Little Warrior (born 1895, died 1966) was a talented Hunkpapa Lakota artist. She came from the Standing Rock Reservation. She was one of the first women known for creating ledger art. People also knew her as Annie Red Tomahawk.

Who Was Annie Little Warrior?

Annie Little Warrior was born in 1895. She married Harry Red Tomahawk. They lived on the Standing Rock Reservation in North Dakota.

Some researchers thought she might be from the Cheyenne tribe. This was because some of her drawings showed Cheyenne images. However, experts at the National Museum of the American Indian confirmed she was Hunkpapa Lakota. They also confirmed her birth year as 1895. Her grave marker shows a different death year, 1988. But museum records state she passed away in 1966.

Annie Little Warrior's Artwork

Annie Little Warrior created what is called ledger art. This art style became popular among Native American artists. They used materials like graphite pencils and crayons. They drew on paper, often pages from old ledger books.

Her artwork was special because it told stories. Many Native American women artists at that time made more abstract designs. Annie's drawings showed scenes from everyday life. They also showed important events.

What Her Drawings Show

Her pictures give us clues about her world. One drawing shows the American flag. This tells us she drew about life after contact with European settlers.

She also drew rituals from Plains Indian tribes. One drawing might show a Cheyenne War Dance. The men in the picture wear special headdresses. Another artwork shows a camp being moved. This picture is signed "Miss Annie Little Warrior." The signature was likely added by someone else. But it shows how important her identity as an artist was.

Five of her amazing drawings are kept at the National Museum of the American Indian. This museum is part of the Smithsonian Institution.