Jason Lee Tako, "Saber Rattler"

Jason Lee Tako, "Saber Rattler" captures a powerful moment of fierce resistance as a Lakota warrior charges forward, saber raised, atop a galloping paint horse. Dressed in traditional regalia, including a hairpipe breastplate and feathered headdress, the warrior's expression of raw intensity is underscored by the mountainous backdrop and dust-filled atmosphere. The interplay of light and shadow evokes a sense of unstoppable momentum, as if the viewer is directly in the path of history reclaiming its voice.

The saber—likely captured from a fallen cavalryman—becomes both a literal and symbolic weapon in the hands of the warrior, reflecting the grit and spirit of the Plains Indians who fought to protect their way of life. Every brushstroke in the composition reinforces the emotional tension, from the flared nostrils of the horse to the tattered edges of the warrior’s sleeve. This piece pays homage not only to the bravery of the individual but to the broader story of resistance and cultural survival. ARTIST: Featured Artist at the 2020 Southeastern Wildlife Expo in Charleston, SC; Featured Artist at the 2023 NatureWorks Show in Tulsa, OK; featured in an 8-page editorial in the Nov/Dec issue of Art of the West Magazin; featured on the cover of the 2025 Museum of the Mountain Man auction catalog