The show itself consisted of a series of "historical" scenes interspersed with feats of showmanship, sharp shooting, racing, or rodeo style events. Native Americans figured prominently in many of the scenes, often shown attacking whites in historical situations with Buffalo Bill or one of his colleagues riding in and saving the day.

The exact scenes changed over time, but were either portrayed as a "typical event" such as early settlers defending a homestead, a wagon train crossing the plains, or a more specific event such as the Battle of the Little Big Horn. Of course, to recreate the battles and scenes exactly would be impossible, but Buffalo Bill used his poetic license often to glorify himself (Slotkin, 1993a, p. 170). He was, however, very concerned with recreating the West that he loved as accurately as his life experiences saw it, and tried to maintain at least accurate detail in his Wild West shows. (Slotkin, 1993a, p. 170).

Historically, this Exhibition became popular as Native Americans ceased to be a threat. The Ghost Dances and the Massacre at Wounded Knee in 1890 showed not only that Native Americans had very little fight left, but Buffalo Bill used his small role in these engagements to further his own glory. He was able to bring the danger of the West, in the form of the Native Americans, the rough riders, and the display of skills used for survival back to the east in a carnivalesque setting, thus mythologizing the dangers and the freedoms that symbolized the frontier of civilization.

This was palatable to eastern audiences and the royalty of Europe because he was able to disguise the carnivalesque under the rhetoric of historical and scientific accuracy. (Slotkin, 1993a, p. 170). Similarly, the figure of Buffalo Bill as someone who could walk the worlds of frontiersman and gentleman because he was able to control the frontier, miniaturize it, and reduce it to an event to be viewed, sentimentalizing the grotesqueness of the West.

L to R: Elisha Greene, Wild Bill Hickok, Buffalo Bill Cody, Texas Jack Omhundro, Eugene Overton in "Journal of the West," (p.62)

Native Americans in the Wild West Show

The Indians who participated in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show staged events such as "Indian Races" and recreating historic battles (Custer's Last Stand) as well as signing autographs for extra money. Native Americans joined the Wild West Show for the opportunities it provided for traveling including travels to Europe meeting the crown heads of Europe including Queen Victoria.

Native Americans who participated in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show di not leave much of a record about what they thought of the show behind (Chauncey Yellow Robe, see reference page, being one of the exceptions). Many Native Americans performed in his show, especially the Plains Indians like the Pawnee and Sioux. Some of the famous Native Americans who were in the show included Sitting Bull, Chief Joseph, Geronimo, and Rains in the Face (reported to be the man who killed Custer).

Buffalo Bill did having fought in the Indian wars used this to his advantage. After the Battle of the Little Big Horn, he staged an event in which he took an Indian scalp calling it the first scalp taken for Custer. He played up the supposed savagery and wildness of Native Americans in his exhibition for dramatic purposes. Despite this, he is reported to have always treated the Native Americans in his troop with great respect.

Group of Native Americans in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show at Earl's Court, London (Rosa and May, 1989, p. 120)

Sitting Bull, pictured here with Buffalo Bill, was able to meet President Cleveland while with the exhibition. He believed this proved what an important chief he was, Sitting Bull also thought of Buffalo Bill as a friend, and highly valued the horse he was given when he left the show (Anderson, 1996, p. 143).

The Native Americans who worked with Buffalo Bill tended to dress in their best clothes, and he never allowed them to be overly humbled or degraded. they were paid adequately for their performances although Sitting Bull gave most of his earnings away.

Black Elk, an Oglala Sioux, traveled to London, England with the Buffalo Bill Show in 1883. He met Queen Victoria; calling her "Grandmother England." He and several others were left behind when they missed the boat taking the show back to the United States. They found work with another traveling exhibition, and traveled to several other European cities including Paris, France.

Black Elk (left) and Yellow Hand (right), when they were with the Buffalo Bill Show (Joseph Epes Brown, 1953, p. 60.)

WWW Links to Native Americans:

Chief Joseph || Chief Sitting Bull || Geronimo || Native Americans

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