I created this scratchboard piece based on Edward Curtis' famous 1908 photo called "Red Wing-Apsaroke." You can see it in the Library of Congress collection. The Library states in its description, "Crow Indian, Montana, streaks of white paint on cheeks and hair, beaded buckskin shirt trimmed with ermine tails or white rabbit fur." It continues, "... researchers approach the materials in this collection with respect for the culture and sensibilities of the people whose lives, ideas, and creativity are documented here." I took this request seriously. While working on it, I tried to immerse myself in Native American history to create an emotional bond to the work. I read about and watched documentaries on the Trail of Tears and Native American leaders. I read about the Plain Indians, to which Red Wing belonged. The Crow once spread across Montana, North Dakota, and Wyoming. Women had a strong role in the tribe. They held a lot of tribal power and their voices were heard. They built their homes or tipis and disassembled them as the group moved. Men were hunters and warriors. Some warriors went on to become chiefs of a clan. Before being selected by the Council of Chiefs, the warrior had to have physically touched an enemy in battle, defeated another tribe through war, and taken an enemy's weapon while under fire.