Riverside in Wichita in Sedgwick County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Ceremony

Sacred Songs and Objects

— Plains Indians Life, Beliefs and Practices —

Ceremony Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 4, 2011

1. Ceremony Marker

Inscription.

The Plains Indians drew inspiration and power from their ceremonies. Using sacred prayer songs, objects and dances, accompanied by ritual drumming and rattling, the people created a spiritual atmosphere to induce visions and revelations. Ceremonies were a means to offer thanksgiving to God as well as bring good fortune to the tribe in the future. Most Plains tribes revered sacred objects, such as special feathers and rocks, that were unique to their own particular history and essential to their identity.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Indigenous Peoples and Communities.

Location. 37° 41.487′ N, 97° 21.004′ W. Marker is in Wichita, Kansas, in Sedgwick County. It is in Riverside. It can be reached from Veterans Parkway. The marker is on the Keeper of the Plains plaza, at the confluence of the Big and Little Arkansas Rivers, about 500 feet ESE of the Mid-America All-Indian Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 650 North Seneca Street, Wichita KS 67203, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

on the prairies,

and on the Southern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Warriors (here, next to this marker); Women (here, next to this marker); Stories (here, next to this marker); Keeper of the Plains

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(here, next to this marker); Buffalo (here, next to this marker); Tribes (a few steps from this marker); Dream Animals (a few steps from this marker); Tipis (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wichita.

Also see . . .
1. Ceremonies and Dance. (Submitted on June 27, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
2. Mid-America All-Indian Center, Wichita. (Submitted on June 27, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
3. The Keeper of the Plains. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on October 26, 2025, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Keeper of the Plains Plaza Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr.

2. Keeper of the Plains Plaza Markers

(l-r) Tribes, Buffalo, Stories, Women, Warriors, and Ceremony Markers

Credits. This page was last revised on October 26, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 27, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 551 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on June 27, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 2. submitted on June 25, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.