Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1880-11-03
THE REPUBLICAN.
--'''ssa,.- '
CLEARFIELD, PA.
WEDNESDAY MORNING. NOV, ., 1850.
INDIAN DANCES AND FESTI.
FALS.

] SiN1hNN VI thSii NlA iNSAlNt 'N'N''s s'''
is scrupulously kept up. Tho Prot
estant Indians have no part in these
dances and festivals, regarding them
as Pagan rites Christianity is teach.
ing more simple and satisfactory
worship, and it finds favor among them
because Of the improvements every
whore following in its wake. But,
hardly an Indian can be found that
does not venerate the Great Spirit
The New Years festival though often
classed as the last, we shall describe at
the head of the list. 1t continues for
seven days. On the fifth day the
white dog is burned. Great stress is
laid on the coniessing Of their sins
The dog is burned as a sacrifice, and in
the smoke of tho burning dog THEN
sins are borne away
The conicssing of their sins is done
by the job, and is thought by them to
avail for a whole twelve month.
The commencement Of the New
Years jubilee is duly announced by
two Indians, and to be "keepers of the
faith" who formerly dressed in bears
skin or buffalo robes these garments
being fastened about their heads with
wreaths of corn husks.
They usually started in the morning,
and on entering house, one of them
made the following address: "Insten,
! listen-Thc ceremonies which lIa wen.
ne.yu, (Great SPIRIT, has commanded
us to perform, are now to commence.
Prepare your houses. Clear away the
rubbish. Drive out all wild animals.
We wish nothing to hinder us in the
ceremonies soon TO commence. We
exhort you every one to obey what
we ask. Should any of your friends
be taken sick and die, we command
you not to mourn for them, nor allow
any of your friends to do so. But lay
the body aside, and enjoy the ceremo.
mics with US. When they are over we
will mourn with you" This was for
the morning visit In the afternoon
they returned and made the following
speech any Nephews, my Neph-
ews, my Nephews; we now announce
to you that the New Years ceremo-
nies have commenced, according to
our ancient custom. You are each
required to 60 forth and participate
in their observance. This Is the will
of Ha.wen.ne,yu Your first duty
will be to stir up tho ashes on your
neighbors' hearths. Then thank Ha-
wc.ne.yu, each of you, for the return
Of this season, and for the privilege Of
enjoying their festivities" Then they
sang. Repeating this form at every
house concluded the ceremonies of the
first day. Preparation was made also
on this day for coming days. The
whito dog was strangled. 1t was
contrary to their religion to offer a
sacrifice, a single bone Of which had
been broken, or drop OF blood shed.
After being strangled, the dog is then
spotted with red paint or decked all
over with many colored ribbons. In
this plight he is suspended from a
pole until the fifth day, when he is
taken down and burned.
According to injunction the people
stir the ashes ON their neighbors'
hearths on the secoLd day of the festi.
val with wooden shovels, and sprink.
ling portion over the hearths, they
thank Ha.wen.ne. .yu that the lives OF
the dwellers there are spared, and
that they themselves are alive to per.
form their duties.
On the third and fourth days The
dances are inaugurated. Some dance
the Feather dance some dance the
War dance continuing until late in
the evening. Just after dawn on the
fifth day the white dog is laid on an
altar nearthe council house and burned.
The ceremony of burning the white
dog was formerly quite imposing; al
the present day it is very much sim.
pliGed. The customs of the whites
are fast obliterating the ancient land
marks Of the Indian nations.
The address, or speech, as the Sene-
cas- call it, is eloquent and impressive.
1t is always spoken by one of the
"keepers of the iaith,' now called the
Pagan high priest. The address is
very ancient. For more than fifty
years 1T has been substantially the
same as given below. The writer is
indebted for the speech to Rev. Joseph
Turkey, who took it down at a late
New Years festival. The "keoper of
the faith" first invokes Ha.wen-ne-yu,
asking his attention, and having Sc.
cured it as he thinks, thus speaks:
Hail Hail Hail Open your ear
TO hear what thy people have to say.
The smoke of our offering now bears
our words TO thee. Behold our people
gathered here. See they have come
here to celebrate religious customs thou
hast given us. Kind Father, look |
look down upon US. Let us have wis.
dom to perform faithfully what thou
hast commanded. Continue to listen.
The voice of all thy people is ascend.
ing to thee. By thy wisdom keep thy
people to avoid everything which
would tempt thy people to change
their ancient faith. Give us power to
celebrate with our strength, and faith.
fully, the religious ceremonies given to
us by thyself.
Continue to listen: May the keep.
ers of the faith get wisdom from thee
TO perform thy commands Alright.
Give to all of US strength to perform
tho sacred things which came from
thee. We give thanks that thou hast
preserved the ceremonies as ihcv