Why is Tai-me important to the Kiowa?

Tai-me is a two-foot tall doll which is used by the Kiowa in their sun dance, an important ritual for the tribe and the centerpiece of their spiritual life. Tai-me is a symbol of the tribe's good luck, and the Kiowa regularly make offerings to the doll to ensure that fortune continues to smile on them.
Since the Crow first introduced Tai-me to the Kiowa, the Kiowa have gone from strength to strength as a tribe. They've moved to a warmer landscape, become expert horsemen, and most importantly of all, have entered into an alliance with the Comanches that has given them control over the southern plains for a century. All this good luck is attributed to Tai-me, and so it's not surprising that it's so deeply venerated by the Kiowa and that it forms such an important part of their heritage and belief system.