Sioux Replications by Larry Belitz instructs and demonstrates skills of the pre-reservation era such as bow-making, hide tanning, parfleche work, porcupine quillwork, lazy-stitch beadwork and constructing hide tipis (teepees).  Larry has constructed 65 hide tipis and guided the Northern Cheyenne and also Arapaho on tanning and constructing their first buffalo hide tipis in over a century.

      Sioux Replications is committed in assisting the Lakota of today on the Pine Ridge Sioux Reservation twice-monthly serving meals for the Evergreen Housing provided by Doris Belitz.  Worship services are held and Gospel magic is used to teach Bible truths by Larry, as lay pastor (birthday cake magic).

      Sioux Replications, at its ranch site, use brain-tanned hides and sinew-sewing to make historically-correct, museum quality replicas of early-day items.  This includes buffalo robes, war shirts, beaded and porcupine-quilled buckskin dresses, war clubs, hand drums, parfleche containers and buffalo hide tipis.  

      Additionally, he served as Indian Technical and Historical Advisor on ten major films:

      Also, he was associate producer and provided historic items for documentary films:

      Furthermore, for demonstrating outstanding dedication and commitment to excellence in Promotion, Collection, Preservation and Interpretation of South Dakota history, Larry received the South Dakota Governor’s History Award. Read more here.

About Us

      The mission of Sioux Replications is to show and document its artifacts from the Buffalo Days in the Lakota Cultural Museum so the story and romance of the old days will not be forgotten. In this pursuit, stories of pre-reservation life can be accessed through this website. Check out our Lakota Cultural Museum.

      Larry Belitz served as curator of the Wounded Knee Museum on the Pine Ridge Sioux Reservation and artifacts surviving an AIM take-over are displayed at his ranch in the Lakota Cultural Museum. After 50 years of Larry working with museums, he was presented the title: "Plains Indian Material Culture Consultant."

      Sioux Replications was commissioned to make copies of the remaining, original 13 Lewis and Clark artifacts to display in the entry room of Thomas Jefferson's home in Monticello.  The business provides many museums with replicated Plains Indian items for displays, especially dealing with the buffalo culture. One of the museums to which Sioux Replications has contributed items is the Gateway Arch Museum. Additionally, Larry Belitz has been a consultant for organizations such as the Smithsonian Institution.

      Sioux Replications by Larry Belitz has authored the books Buffalo Hide Tipi of the Sioux, Brain Tanning the Sioux Way, Chips Collection of Crazy Horse Medicines and DVDs titled Lakota Quillwork:  Art and Legend and Buffalo Hide Tanning the Sioux Way.  He has provided six articles on items in his Lakota Cultural Museum for Whispering Winds, a Indian hobbyist magazine.  A price list of these and other items can be received by writing:  Larry Belitz, 12747 Oak Road, Hot Springs, SD 57747 or calling (605) 745-3902.

       Larry is a graduate of Concordia University in River Forest, Illinois with degrees in Education and Theology.  He taught courses in Indian Culture and History at the University of South Dakota for Lakota educators.