What was a Sioux Indian war shield made out of?

All the plains tribes made their shields the same way, using the thickest and toughest part of the hide of a bull buffalo - the neck and shoulders.

Making a shield was a task for a medicine man, since the shield would be imbued with sacred protective powers.

A circular disk was first cut from the raw hide, larger than the finished shield was to be (Plains shields were generally in the range 18 to 23 inches across). This was then laid over a low fire in a small pit in the ground and pegged down. the heat would gradually shrink the hide, making it even thicker and tougher. When shrunk, the disk would be removed and cooled, then a long strap was attached to the back - this was to go over the warrior's shoulder or around his neck and was usually the only strap provided.

The medicine man might paint a sacred design on the surface of the shield, or attach feathers, stuffed animal or bird skins, bones or strips of fur to the shield, or he might leave it completely plain. An outer cover of soft deer hide was then made to fit over the outside of the shield and this again might have feathers and other items attached.

The shield design was the result of a vision dream experienced by the warrior himself and was his protective spirit in some form: a thunder cloud, an eagle, a bear or something else he had dreamed.

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