The significance of red paint is a notably common element of Native American cultures. For instance, Black Elk described his vision and the importance of using red paint for the ghost dance; “This sacred man [The Messiah] gave some red sacred paint and two eagle feathers to Good Thunder. The people must put this paint on their faces and they must dance a ghost dance that the sacred man taught to Good Thunder, Yellow Breast, and Brave Bear.” (Neihardt, 2008) Black Elk frequently spoke of a new world coming and often referred to the people’s faces as having been painted red; and when Black Elk described the Heyoka ceremony he said, “We had our bodies painted red all over and streaked with black lightning.” (Neihardt, 2008)