Cheyenne and Arapaho of Oklahoma (U.S.)

Native American

Last modified: 2006-03-04 by rick wyatt
Keywords: cheyenne and arapaho | oklahoma | native american |
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image located by Olivier Touzeau, 21 November 2002

• Description of the flag

See also:

• Native Americans
• Oklahoma
• United States of America

On www.cheyenne-arapaho.nsn.us/government/flag.htm (no longer available):

The flag of the Cheyenne and Arapaho (below) is a slightly modified version of the old flag. Both flags were blue, bearing an outline of the state of Oklahoma in the center. Crossing this is a lance bearing two sets of fourteen eagle feathers. Fourteen was the number of members that the old tribal council contained. In the center of the flag is the seal of the two tribes. It bears a tipi surrounded by three Christian crosses in white. Ringing this is a band bearing fourteen stars, again for the tribal council members. Except for the crosses, all items appear in black against a backdrop of what has been described as peach, apricot or light beige. This color is probably meant to recall the rawhide used on both Cheyenne and Arapaho shields. Behind the shield are two traditional emblems of war and peace used by many Native American peoples. An arrow, traditionally a symbol for war, but since it is facing down, it means that the Cheyenne and Arapaho are at peace. The second item is the peace pipe which serves not only as a symbol of peace, but is very important in the ceremonies of many tribes. These two symbols are crossed, forming an X. Above and below the entire device is the name of the combined tribe in black lettering. The flag was altered to reflect both the name change of the Cheyenne and the makeup of the Tribal Council. To show the new council's structure, a row of eight white stars has been added across the top of the map of Oklahoma.