The Ghost Shirt facts for kids
The Ghost Shirt is a special shirt that many people believe was worn by a Sioux warrior. This warrior was likely involved in a sad event called the Wounded Knee Massacre in 1890. The shirt is made of plain cotton. It has feathers from ravens, owls, and eagles hanging from its neck. You can also see several bullet holes in it. There are some light brown stains, possibly blood, but it is not certain if the shirt was definitely from the massacre.
People believed that shirts like the Ghost Shirt had special powers. They were sacred to American Indians. The Lakota Sioux were the only tribe who thought these special shirts would protect them from bullets.
In 1891, the shirt was brought to Glasgow, Scotland. It was sold to the Kelvingrove Museum by George C. Crager. He was part of Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Traveling Show. The museum displayed the shirt from 1892 until 1999.
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What is the Ghost Shirt?
The Ghost Shirt is a simple cotton shirt. It has feathers from different birds attached to it. These birds include ravens, owls, and eagles. The shirt also has holes from bullets. There are some light brown marks that might be blood.
This shirt is linked to the Ghost Dance movement. The Ghost Dance was a spiritual practice among some Native American tribes. People who took part in the Ghost Dance believed that special shirts, like the Ghost Shirt, would protect them. They thought these shirts would make them safe from harm, even from bullets. The Lakota Sioux were a tribe who strongly believed in the protective power of these shirts.
A Special Shirt's Journey
After the events of 1890, the Ghost Shirt traveled across the ocean. In 1891, it arrived in Glasgow, Scotland. A man named George C. Crager sold the shirt to the Kelvingrove Museum. George Crager was part of a famous show called Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Traveling Show.
The museum put the shirt on display for many years. Visitors could see it from 1892 until 1999. It was a part of their collection for over a century.
Coming Home: The Shirt's Return
A four-year effort began to bring the shirt back home. This effort was led by Marcella LeBeau. She was a secretary for The Wounded Knee Association. Marcella was also the great-granddaughter of someone who survived the Wounded Knee Massacre. She wanted the shirt to be returned to the Lakota people.
In November 1998, the Glasgow City Council voted to return the shirt. People living in Glasgow supported this decision. As a kind gesture, a new shirt was made in 1998 by Marcella LeBeau herself. This new shirt replaced the original one at the museum. Marcella said that the return of the shirt would help people heal from the sad past.
After special ceremonies, the shirt was stored at the Museum of the South Dakota State Historical Society. On August 1, 2009, a celebration took place in Eagle Butte, South Dakota. This event marked ten years since the Ghost Dance shirt was returned. In 2018, Marcella LeBeau said she hoped the shirt would move to the Cultural Center of the Cheyenne River Sioux tribe in Eagle Butte.
See also
- Repatriation (cultural heritage)
