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Like medals given to courageous soldiers, Indians also had means of displaying bravery. Feather headdresses told a story. According to the way each feather was marked, it meant anything from having killed an enemy or to the warrior, himself, having been wounded. Some tribes wore animal tails tied to their moccasins; others carried locks of hair from enemy scalps as recognition of their bravery.

Indian women of the Plains tribes did beautiful beadwork. They designed their own patterns which oftentimes had various meanings. A cross may have signified a "star"; black color meant "night." Red often showed "thunder," "sunset," or "blood." Triangles and diamond patterns were very popular.

Although the color of Indians' skins varies from nearly white to a deep brown, they are spoken of as "red men" or "red skins." Plains Indians usually painted their faces and bodies before going to war. The designs came to them in dreams. Red paint was used most frequently because it meant strength. It was the early explorers who started this expression by referring to the warriors as "red men" or "redskins."

Bows and arrows proved to be ideal weapons for Plains Indians on horseback. They were light to carry. Because they could be shot without making a noise, no one could tell where they came from. The Indians could shoot so fast that they were able to keep several arrows in the air at the same time. For that reason, Indians preferred their bows to the early muzzle-loading flintlock muskets which were slower to use.