Lapel Pin Details | American Indian Heritage | Kansas City Chiefs - Chiefs.com

Every November, the Kansas City Chiefs recognize and honor American Indian Heritage Month. To acknowledge and further raise awareness of the traditions and beliefs of various tribal communities, the Chiefs – in consultation with the American Indian Community Working Group – commissioned a lapel pin in celebration of American Indian Heritage Month. Members from multiple tribes contributed to the design and production of the American Indian Heritage Month lapel pin, including the Southern Arapaho, Northern Arapaho, Fort Peck Assiniboine, Sioux, Cheyenne Arapaho, Kickapoo and Choctaw.

The outer edge of the pin features an American Indian Medicine Wheel design, symbolizing life's harmony, balance, and interconnected stages and elements. The circular shape reflects the cycle of life and symbolizes the important concept in American Indian culture that everything in life is done in fours, which includes:

• Four Colors: Red, White, Black and Gold
• Four Directions: North, East, South, West
• Four Stages of Life: Birth, Youth, Adulthood, Death/Spiritual World
• Four Seasons: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer
• Four Elements: Water, Earth, Air, Fire

The background of these pins features arrowheads pointed in each direction, which symbolizes the blessing of the four directions. This is a blessing towards the North, East, South, and West which is interpreted differently among various tribal communities, but commonly it represents the blessing of good faith, preparation, and life. Additionally, the Turtle symbol in the background of the pins signifies former Chief LoneBear of the Northern Arapaho Tribe and his people's belief in the turtle's role in creating land when the earth was flooded.

Chief LoneBear and former Kansas City Mayor H. Roe Bartle, had a partnership that played a significant role in the history of the Kansas City Chiefs. The colors on the outer edge of the pin represent Chief LoneBear's, Northern Arapaho Tribal colors. Red represents the people. White represents knowledge to be passed on to the youth. Black represents that people will be strong and unfearing of death. In addition, gold has been added to the pin to signify the partnership and history between Chief LoneBear, the Northern Arapaho Tribe, and former Kansas City Mayor H. Roe Bartle as well as their impact on – and connection to – the Kansas City Chiefs.