☩ Such amulets made of rawhide (and sometimes metal or wood) in the shape of bison, horse, dragonfly, thunderbird and other real or mystical creatures were often used to enhance personal medicine and protective properties of the shields, breastplates, sometimes were attached to necklaces or worn as a hair decoration.

☩Rawhide cut-outs usually represent creatures of power (bears, buffalo and elk as common cut-outs). Elk were common for love medicine; bears, horses, deer, buffalo, birds (eagles, thunderbirds) and dragonflies were common decoration on shields; dragonflies and birds were also commonly worn in the hair as ornaments (although any animal that was a talisman for that particular person could be worn anywhere in the hair or on the clothing). Man figures and buffalo were common sun dance objects, tied to the center pole of the arbor. So, rawhide cut-out use was varied and widespread. Mostly for ornament because the animals had meaning.