Omaha pow-wow in Macy, Nebraska, 1983, Courtesy Omaha Indian Music, Library of Congress, American Folklife Center

On the top of the bonnet, Augusta beaded a five point yellow star surrounded by a pair of crossed flags. Flags have been popular in American Indian art and especially with the Lakota since the mid-19th century. They were given as gifts when Plains elders visited Washington DC, and by government officials visiting the western territories as early as 1790. Flying an American flag in camps and reservations was a sign of friendly intentions toward visitors. The flag was awarded to American Indian veterans who honored the warrior tradition by enlisting in U.S. armed forces. Stars with five points, like those on the bonnet, were adapted in the late 19th century from the American flag, replacing earlier four pointed stars that symbolized the four directions.