Migration of the Pawnees

The Pawnee Indians, who lived most of their lives in semi-permanent dwellings along the larger rivers of the West like the Missouri, found it necessary to venture onto the Plains from time to time in search of buffalo. At that point, they accepted the peripatetic life of the nomadic tribes, and were forced by the erratic movements of their prey to wander about as the herds did.

Miller completed several versions of this scene over the years. This is the only watercolor of the group. Where this fits within the chronology of Miller’s oeuvre is unknown.

Peter H. Hassrick