“Plains Indians had a very strong color sense to their art and red was a war color,” says Tom Gilleon. “The two shields to the top and left are inspired by the Ghost Dance. The one on the right is a more typical war shield. In the center of this group of warriors and shields sits Red Cloud. He was one of the few tribal leaders that actually forced the U.S. government to seek peace because the Sioux had the upper hand. He repeatedly defeated their forces in battle, at one point forcing the closing down of the forts along the Bozeman Trail.”