Buffalo Dance

"Buffalo Dance", believed to be the first-ever depiction of Native American culture in a motion picture, showcases genuine members of the Sioux Tribe. Filmed in the early days of cinematography at Edison's Black Maria studios by William K.L. Dickson and William Heise, this captivating film features dancers believed to be veterans from Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. The warriors are named Hair Coat, Parts His Hair, and Last Horse. What makes this particular footage intriguing is the initial stillness of the participants before they commence their dance, with some of them occasionally looking at the camera in a melancholic manner – an emotional reminder of the cultural displacement experienced by Native Americans during that era.