A 1909 panorama showing the gathering of Cheyenne peoples for a Sun Dance, one of the most important rituals practiced by North American Plains Indians. Each tribe has its own distinct rituals and methods, but many of the ceremonies have features in common, including dancing, singing, praying, drumming, the experience of visions, fasting, and in some cases piercing of the chest or back—here, on the Tree of Life (center, in front of tent).Photo credit: Henry Chaufty