Wichita eagle., 1889-10-01
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The SIOUX SUN DANCE.
IMPORTANT EVENT IN THE LEE
OF A YOUNG INDIAN BRAVE

hss courage and Physical Endurance Put
to Severe Test-Dancing on His Heels
for Fsrty-eight Hours, in the Hot Sun.
Without Drop of Water.
A sun dance is more important event in
the life of a young Sioux buck than the
coming out" ball of society debutante. for
IN nus case it transforms a boy into war
nor, and gives him standing in his band
VTat ne must achieve or be looked upon with
contempt as "coffee cooler,n an expressive
term used by the Indians, meaning one who
hangs around camp to beg for what is left
AFTER his betters have been served No buck
can appear in council and talk-a function
rs dear to the Indians heart as it is to the
before mentioned society belle-unlcss he has
gone through with the physical discomforts
OF this ceremonial dance
AN IMMENSE DANCE HOUSE
The dance, which lasts about two days, oc-
ours about once year, in July or August.
Notice OF the date and place of holding is sent
by runners to all the different bands of the
Sioux tribe. Having been told by friend of
mime Standing Elk, chief of band of Spot
To- Tail Indians, who spoke excellent English
wen asking for whisky or tobacco, that old
Spots outfit were going to have a sun dance
near their agency, on the Keya-Paha, about
Chlrty-hve miles from the post where | was
serving, in Dakota l got up party of Off
GERS to ride over and see it. Standing Elk,
who was to be the grand marshal, agreed to
provide US with reserved seats.
After some difficulty we found the place,
and saw before u.s. on rising plateau on the
other side of the peaks of the Keya-Paha.
hundreds of tepees and several thousands of
bucks, squaws and papooses, olso a great
mass of other animal life There were IA. 900
or IL, 900 Indians present. This crowd,
mounted and on foot, was. centering on the
Ng dance house, where the festivities were
u full blast, the dancing having begun with
x first rays of the sun, all Of the dancers
wing spent the previous night seated in a
circle In the center of this tepee waiting for
the sun to rise
The Wa-che-pee tepee Ior dance house, was
an immense circle, inclosed on the outside,
except wide entrance by posts set in the
ground; the spaces filed in with brush, with
shade of the same built over the top The
middle of this inclosure-occupied by the
dancers-was open to the full glare of a pow
erful sun. All around this circle on the
pOSIS supporting tne Shaie, were hung ban
ners Of different colored calicoes painted buf-
fa!o hides and gayly decorated shields of the
same material. The general effect was that
of circus.
In the center of the circle was planted a
Ia cottonwood pole, from which were hung
bs6ners, lariats, buffalo heads, medicine
bags, punches of painted porcupine quills
bundles of birds feathers and large figures of
men cut out of buffalo hide. This pole was
cut, hauled to its place and planted by a num-
Der of maidens the evening before. 1t is the
only part of the ceremony women are al
lowed to participate in. They are even ex-
cluded from the Enclosure, but are kindly al
lowed to crafty their curiosity by peeping
through the outside brush.
f., The orchestra, located opposite the en-
trance, consisted of six enormous tomtoms,
operated by choice body of thieves and
cutthroats ever murdered music The /
dance, being continuous from the rising Of
the sun until the going down on the second |
ay, requires unceasing music, so there was |
Z aietail of musical experts to relieve each |
- al stated intervals