Tóh-to-wah-kón-da-pee, Blue Medicine, a Medicine Man of the Ting-ta-to-ah Band

George Catlin described Blue Medicine, a member of the Eastern Sioux/Dakota tribe, as a noted doctor or medicine man, “with his medicine or mystery drum and rattle in his hands, his looking-glass on his breast, his rattle of antelope's hoofs, and drum of deer-skins.” The artist painted this portrait in 1835 at Fort Snelling, a military post in today’s Minnesota. (Catlin, 1848 Catalogue, Catlin’s Indian Gallery, SAAM online exhibition)