Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-12-18
THE GHOST DANCE.
A RELIGIOUS CEREMONIAL OF
THE SIOUX INDIANS.
It is Combination of the Circling
Crow and Sun Dance-Description
of the Two Dances.

Crow and Sun Dance-Description
of the Two Dances.
''The ghost dance of the Sioux in
Dakota" said Mr.. Paul Beckwith, of the
smithsonian Institution, to a Washing
ton Star reporter, 81 believe to be the Wa
kan-wa- ci- pi-holy or medicine dance.
Wakan is translated as meaning spirit or
holy. The Holy Ghost in Sioux is
Wakan .tanka, i. e., literally great or
holy spirit. You will readily see from
this that the word Wakan is translated
as holy, spirit, also ghost. The dance it
self believe to be the Wa-kan wa ci- -pi,
as they have in this dance regular cere-
monies OF Initiation which they have in
no other dance The Sioux have added
some of the few features of the sun dance.
AS their language is superlatively a fig
urativc one, their ceremonies are symbol
lcal. l would, therefore, conclude those
features of the sun dance symbolical or
illustrating. Courage, fortitude, indif-
ference to physical pain and like traits
are added to the Wa kan-w ci .pi,
which is simply their religion, and as the
question of the advent of their Messiah
is purely religious rejoicing, 30 the ex-
termination of the whites a purely re-
vengeful rejoicing. 1t seems 10 me that
the two dances illustrating th., two feat
ures would naturally be combined. Also
from the meager accounts we have had
of the ghost dance | recognize the spirit
as well as the action portrayed IN the two
Dances"
A good description of the circling
crow and the sun dances was given by
Mr. Beckwith in his ''Notes on Customs
of the Dakotas," Smithsonian report
In this publication he said:
Pa-gi-mi- hi-na-ka Wa-ci- pi-The cir
cling crow dance, also called the straw or
grass dance, is controlled by three men,
wear a peculiar insignia, tunic of crow
and eagle feathers attached to belt
ornamented with beads and quills over
the small of the back project two sticks
several inches long; at the ends are jing-
ling bells, every motion of the wearer
causing the sticks to vibrate and the
bells to jingle. These tunics are held sa-
cred, and no profanc hand allowed to
touch them. The next officers of the
order are four drummers, each provided
with baton or office, stick wrapped
with porcupine quilts and strings of beads,
the four sticks being used to suspend
the drum, and large wash tub or cheese
box, covered with skin, the sides draped
with fine cloth, ornamented with feathers,
beads and quilts. The duties of the
drummers are to strike the drum with full
force and to keep up an incessant sing
ing. Stewards are appointed to collect
provisions, which are rarely refused.
When sufficient is collected to last sever
al days the three leading men are notified,
who, calling the lodge, make arrange
ments for the dance. The crier then
goes through the camp announcing when
and where the dance will be held.
The three chiefs appear in their feath-
cred tunics and the members in their
most brilliant paint. Seating themselves
upon the ground, wrapped in their
blankets up to the eyes, the drummers
open the ball, the dancers throw their
blankets aside and, springing to their
feet, brandish their tomahawks or knives
with violent gestures and an occasional
whoop, chant and dance for few mo-
ments, resume their blankets and seats,
leaving one in the ring, who, fiercely
gesticulating and wildly waving toma-
hawk or knife, will brag numerically
over some exploit in war or chase; again
all jump up, dance and yell A repeti.
tion of the same performances is gone
through with again and again for several
days or until the provisions are con-
sumed. They will initiate animals, TAX
ing raw meat or fish, snarl, growl and
snap over it, tearing it with their teeth
like the wild beast they are SO well imi-
tating. All questions are first discussed
by the head men in council, pro and con,
and are then put to vote, the votes in the
affirmative represented by a stone, those
in the negative by piece of wood. No
decision is arrived at until after many
pow-wows; even then another lodge
will be called in to participate. A ques-
ton of Importance once decided,
the head chief of the band will
be called in, whether men,
Der of the lodge or not, and he must
perform the mission they have intrusted
him with, and as their influence is large
ly kept up through these orders the
chiefs are glad of these commissions.
There are no signs or pass words, and
with the exception of the skunk skin
garter, elaborately ornamented with
beads, there is nothing to designate the
members from the outside world Though
this order is of late date it is the most
powerful among the Indians. During
this dance, if member wishes q divorce
from one or more of his wives they
generally add one or two Just before the
dance for this purposc), he proclaims
that he (naming himself) throws away
(naming herr, and she is no longer his
wife. An outsider, in payment, can
deputize member to act for him. No
member will act as spokesman for any
one not member unless paid re-
tainer's fee, generally gun or horse
the more influential gain fifty to one
hundred horses during the year, but
have to give away as many to retain
their influence.
There are no ceremonies of initiation
they generally give horse, starting him
off with cut of the whip, for anyone
who chooses to catch him. The order is
q charitable one. An old woman called
on the order, stated her poverty; imme-
diately the crier was sent around the
camp, and in few hours the members
were all present, as they will drop any
work or pleasure when called. The
leader stated the cause of the meeting
the result was flour and pork, thirteen
blankets, calico, fine cloth and skins.
Another instances An Indian, wishing to
build bouse, invited the order to a
feast; as he was not a member one
stated his wants. After the feast the
building was soon completed. Though
a charitable and social society it is one
very much feared; and there exist lodges