DECEMBER 22-28, 2019
WHAT'S UP! 41
What's Up! is a publication of the
Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
EDITOR
Becca Martin-Brown
479-872-5054
bmartin@nwadg.com
Twitter: NWAbecca
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Jocelyn Murphy
479-872-5176
jmurphy@nwadg.com
Twitter: NWAJocelyn
REPORTERS
Deb Harvell
479-872-5029
dharvell@nwadg.com
Lara Hightower
479-365-2913
lhightower@nwadg.com
DESIGNER
Deb Harvell
ON THE COVER
A ghost dancer shirt in the collection at the
Museum of Native American History was
acquired in Oklahoma and is likely Arapaho.
It is made from soft leather and decorated
with long fringe and painted designs. Stars
are one of the most common motifs seen
on these shirts, as they represent the heav-
ens. The black birds signify open-beaked
crows, while the ones with white on their
wings are magpies. Among the Cheyenne
and Arapaho, crows and magpies were de-
picted as messengers from the spirit world.
Photo courtesy MONAH
