The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-02
WORSHIPING TIED sun
The Annual Dance of a Surviving
Aboriginal Tribes.

Heather Rites Among the AboriG-
ines-A Question az to Whether
Tribes Are Retro;:radinE or Al
vnncinR in OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
lions Of the Honor of Red Men.
Will the Indians, during the forthcom-
ing 100 years, reach the end of their
Journey toward the setting sum- or will
they increase in number and civilization
and become factors in the life Of the ma
ton? This is now a perplexing question.
Some tribes are increasing. others de-
creasing: some becoming converts to
Christianity. others still retaining their
ancient customs and beliefs. Among the
latter is 4 tribe in New York State, as well
as many in the West and Southwest. The
heather rites of these savage or partly saw
age tribes are attracting a good deal of at
tention just row among curious observers.
and indeed any thing more grotesque could
hardly be imagined. Sun dances"
'spake Dances" and observances going by
similar suggestive names are, in many
cases. religious either in character or ORR
gin. and show how difficult ii is for peo-
PIE to break away entirely from the ira
6itions of the past. An intert Sting case of
this sort is that of the sun dance of the
Poncas in Kansas.
The latest sun dance" of the Poncas
was held on their reservation Just south
Of Wichita. Kan. in September. Indian
Agent Gasen forbid them dancing over
three days and stationed soldiers at the
grounds TO see that his orders We're car
ried out. The dance, which is one of the
most sacred known to the Indians, was
attended by visiting Kaws, Otoes, Osages,
Pawnees and Cheyennes. White Horse
q leading medicine man of the reservation
tribes of the Southwest, and one of the
best-versed men of his class, led the dance.
He is now 101 years old. and when in the
dance circle is as spry a cat.
About LOCO Indians were in camp and
greater part of them took part at various
times during the three days and nights.
Their white tepees extended in a circle
around the dancing grounds about one
half mile in diameter In the centre Of
this circle was the sacred pole of willows.
at the top Of which futtered black flag.
Surrounding the pole was an enclosure of
brush opening toward the rising sun. This
enclosure was about thirty feet in diam
eter and SO made as to screen the war
r!ors from curious eyes. West Of the pole
was a banner supported on stakes. In the
middle OF the banner was the almost life
size figure of a man. On his right was a
picture of the sun and winged human
figure. On the left were pictures of a
hgure with human head. an eagle a
crow, smaller bird resembling a jay
bird, another but larger bird, two more
animals with human heads, and the figure
OF woman bearing bow. The signifi
canoe Of these objects could not be
learned, as the Indians refused to talk
about them.
The dance is the worship of the sun.
God through the sun. 1t is held fer the
purpose OF an invocation for health and
or. as the Indians put 1.-THE worship OF a
fruitful year. The warriors who partici
pate are not permitted TO eat until the
end OF the dance and many often fall in
sensible from exhaustion.
In earlier years the dance was one of
shocking cruelty. One practice was TO
pierce their flesh on the backs and chests
with knives, lifting a strip of flesh until
a leather thong could be tied around 1t.
The thong was then fastened TO a rope
attached to ring on the sacred pole and
the warrior in a frenzy oil religion turned
loose to dance until the thong tore the
flesh and left bloody gaping wound.
deemed unworthy of the name Of war
rior The Indian agents have since put a
step to this custom
There were about seventy dancers this |
year. The men were brawny. aathietic !
fellows. stripped TO the waist and COW I
cred with paint and feathers. Two very |
old women exhorted the dancers rot to |
forget the old days. but TO be brave like !
their fathers. At times women Joined in |
the dance and like the men gazed stead |
lastly at the sun with uplifted palms and 7
prayed with pathetic cry that touched |
even the spectators.
Many ponies. fine shawls and costly 4
trinkets were given away to the visiting |
Indians. and the POncas were left abso- |
lutely penniless after the dance. num-
Der of white men with kodaks came near
being mobbed after having secured sew
erai snapshots of the dance
Protection Against Whites.
United States Indian Agent Shoenfeit.
in charge of the Union Agency. whose |
jurisdiction comprises the Five Civilized
Tribes In the Indian Territory. protests
In his annual report against unlawful &C.
cupation OF the Indian lands and urges
rigid Congressional legislation to protect
the Indian against the encroachment of
whites. or 1900 complaints filed
by Indians in The past fiscal year q large
were against white men, who in
the past had intruded themselves upon
the Indians and had gained their conf
dence to a sufficient degree to secure pos
session of their prospective allotments
and after having secured possession re-
fused either to pay rent or to yacate.
Many Of the Indians are too poor TO in
stitute suit for possession and therefore
are LEFT helpless.
The total population of the Five Civil
lied Tribes is estimated at 81, 80 COM
prising 20.250 Choctaws and sfreedmen
10. 500 Chickassws and freedmen, 10 600
Creeks and freedmen. 81. 900 Cherokees and
1890 Seminoles. Their lands
a total OF 1g, s7S. 2s6 acres. The
agent says that there is now every fea-
son to believe that the Indian depreda-
lions and disturbances in the Five Tribes
region are at an end. A few full
blooded Creeks are strenuously opposing
The allotments of lands and have banded
together ald refuse 10 select their allot-
ments. A large majority of the Greeks
however, have actually made their selec-
ions.
The injustice OF many criticisms OF the
Indians in the past has been shown very
,larngly OF recent years by evidence fur
nished hy some tribes supposed in the
past 10 have furnished most excuse for
hostility. In his report OF the Depart
g -. a. f.., Iz.s