The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-08-17
AN indian DREAM
How Indian Youth Gets His
Clan Totem.
CELEBRATION is UNIQUE
He Seeks Solitude and In
vokes Holy Blessing.
CELEBRATION is UNIQUE


centuries have Celebrated tA-s occasion i
their own strange way BY the dream
fast As the tine for the maturity nears
among them the young Indian con-
mences his preparations for the fast and
IT'S solitude. stealthny he enters the for
est there 10 find some secluded spot
near which to erect his dream cabin
ouilt Of poles and hemlock boughs. Re
selects q place b. the bank Of q river, as
he is permitted TO quench thirst, the only
privilege Of the fast, which must endure
ten days at least. No matter If IT be mid
winter he is denuded Of all clothing. save
the breech cloth; has no weapon in his
] hands and 10 food. As the young faster
| approaches his cabin he invOkes the
blessing Of the Great Spirit upon him,
entreating that a good totem sign be
sent him This totem Is a symbol not
| only OF the family clan 70 which he is
/ born. but il must be accompanied by
some sort OF a bird. beast. reptile, or
other animate thing as the dream sign.
There are eight clan totems in the SEN
I eca nation OF the New York state IN
dians-bear. beaver. wolf. deer. turtle.
dream fast If the clan animal or bird ap-
pears 10 the youth accompanied by some
other bird or beast three times in success
| sion, the dreamer then accepts OF the
dream prophecy as the arbiter Of his fu-
ture-for instance. should the young IN
| dian have been born Of the wolf clan and
he dreams for three nights in succession
Of wolf, who shows him bird. his luck
and life guide viii be that bird.
Ten days is the limit OF the fast II his
totem does not visit his dreams during
that time the chiefs release him from his
self Imprisonment, from which he de-
parts unhappy ard disgraced, under the
ban Of no dream sign which he can in
woke for success during his life. This
failure seldom occurs. as the Indian is
a great dreamer. and by dream revela-
lions war, disease, danger, or any caiam-
ity or conquest which may befzu the
people may be foretoId by the dreaming
/ prophet or medicine man.
The youth who dreams successfully OF
his totem vii carry & sign somewhere
about him always. either in tattoo or q
Even as the Catholics carry the image
OF their patron saint or the heather
wears the symbol OF his faith. so does
the Indian decorate himself with the
sign OF his dream fast
Durr1g ne fast the dreamer must per
feSus acts ~aE bravery. --st4llfng poisonous
reptiles and some powerful animal. the
skins OF which he must return TO his
people Attacking a rattlesnake, he
arms himself with a long stick. at the
end OF which he ties a bunch OF roots TO
charm the snake Nearing the snake $
den, he watches for one OF the larger Of
them which may be basking ii the sun
when, as the faster he creeps behind 1t.
he slowly waves the wand before the
reptile. which vii surely succumb TO its
sleepy charm. and stretch itself out an
easy prey. The greater number killed
during the fast. the greater victory The
number OF animals is not limited sue
cesfuI encounter with one VIII sufice
Though the fast is limited TO ten days. If
the brave youth has had no dream sign
and can endure the privations few days
longer. he is permitted to do so.
\ story OF the dream fast is pathetic
ally told IL the robin legend OF the Iro-
quois- IN the midwinter q fearless young
faster had entered the cabin with more
than usual bravery. He was bold
young warrior. the leader OF games the
swtftest runner. could throw the arrow
farther than any OF his comrades. q sue
cesfuI hunter. and the favorste OF his
clan Defiant and bold he welcomed his
dream fast 20 prove his endurance Al
the end OF the ten days. when he had
not returned. the searching chiefs. shak-
ing the branches OF his hsmiock cabin.
commanded him 10 Come forth Not
yet. be replied. 7 am strong but the
totem has not appeared but twice with
ny dream sign-the robin Return to-
morrow On the morrow again they
called him Not yet; one day more" he
replied IN a weakened voice Again OF
again warned that his time had passed
he impl0red yet one day more. he could
not bear the disgrace OF returning with
no totem sign He had been brave ard
vas enduring. ard again the chiefs con-
scented. yet on the morrow when they
shook tne branches no reply came. There
was 4 strange silence IN the caBsn. The
hare henlock boughs trenbled II the
wind A weird Stiffness had fallen upon
the forest. Tie chiefs were aved and
speechless. when suddenly from 1he Tar
sky q bird as~ down and. resting upoa
a branch q the henlcck over the cabin
door. II a singing voice began 70 speak.
T am Jls-ca-ga- arr the young var
rtor zhon you are seeking he IS not =
the cabin. I was h.diag from the wind
when the totem found ne. We -aue
too late. The spirit OF the Young waT-ior
was leaving the body when found ny
way 20 hin. ard zor his spirit vii zbsde
in ne forever ard VII SPEAK . you
On The soften~d breeze a musical voice
whispered; I an the warrior vAon yo1
deserted By ny totem 7 Was h1peiessIy
waiting when Ey bod Spirit refused 70
remain with ne. : an nox The Js-Co-
Gs-ths robin. DC rct so-rcw Ter re. N
fhe spr.rgtsr1e ! xtl co-1e 20 voz zsth
the warn sun wfff siuE = re trees
ard the young lesv-z VII coze firth .
listen Viii rest o. the tsp branches.
snt re hloSsor1s All ~eIceE-e r.
carry the gray shadows % s7rnE down
CT ny wings. and ths ed SKY q tie
sumner sunset On Ex h-eas- I VII rot
hide acne IN TIE bis Forest. al usss
n vols- cshsus Tour chE5-sz ~ Know
TIE spr.ng i oo-1izs ~he, they So n
The suo= ztl melt ints singing streams
when Il hears ny voice Ecz WI ret
ind re n The cshin- SoT I an 3 rohl-
and I've VIII the su1bsazns ard TIE SKY.
lock for ne the-e- Farewell