New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-16
The Sun DANCE RITE OF WESTERN INDIANS
a0W THIS TRIBAL CEREMONY rs ANNUALLY OR
SERVED-CUSTOMS OF PONCAS IN OKLAHOMA

ltor He is announcing what present he is to re-
ceive. and from whom it comes The brave whose
name is called appears, acknowledges the gift and
his squaw takes it away. 1t may be a bundle of
calco, or horse with bundle of Calico OF a fine
blanket or a trunk. or money. One gift that was
announced at the dance this year consisted of a
well built surrey, team of horses. a set of har-
ness and pony tied at the side This handsome
gift was received with no more demonstration than
II II had been trunk, with string of calico No
Indian betrays any show Of surprise no matter
what may be the value of his gift Everything is
taken Il matter of course
White Eagle for thirty-fve years the honored
chief OF the tribe met Joe Miller. of the "1O1''
ranch. at the time of the dance and gave him two
twenty dollar bills. It did not surprise Miller and
White Eagle made the gift in matter of fact
manner that cannot be imagined by any one who
mas not Deen witness TO transactions of this
nature Miller himself had given away 800 or
more and several horses. His brothers had also
shelled OUT quite literally for their copper
colored friends
The Poncas delight in particular TO give to their
Indian visitors One of the notables present this
year was standing Bear a Ponca chief of the
north, whose reservation is near Omaha Standing
Bear received nifty or more horses besides many
other substantial marks of appreciation. With him
from the Nebraska reservation came about fifty Of
MS Iloe' and all were well remembered with pres
ents, as were also the Otoes the Kaws and repre-
sentatives of other tribes that in attendance
Many of the presents that made are given In
honor of some departed While the announce
ment is being made brave will carry about and
exhibit TO tie crowd picture of a dead Indian
1t is generally an enlarged crayon portrait and
while he is doing this the women of the household
in the centre of the open space indulge in the most
doleful lamentations. Means and shrieks fill the
air and tears rain down the faces of aged squaws
and young girls
With the end Of the dance all breaches be-
tween members Of the tribe healed The cur
tain is rung down all quarrels. Whatever diff
ferences may have existed before are forgotten
The slate is wiped OFF and a fresh start is made
If there are fresh quarrels, the next sun dance
will see them wiped off, the last were.
There was added interest in the dance this year.
because White Eagle the chief of the tribe. gave
over the rule to his eldest son, Horse Chief. White
Eagle is the typical Indian of the story book. He
is tall, well built, well preserved good looking
dignifed and with marked indications of great in
telligence. He bears his seventy-eight years
lightly. In his looks there is nothing to indicate
that he should not remain at the mead of the tribe
for years to come But White Eagle thinks diff
ferently.
81 am getting old" the aged Indian said through
his interpreter. 1T is time for the young
man."
The ceremony of the transfer of the title of
chiefdom simple. but impressive. White
Eagle appeared wearing yellow beaded buckskin
trousers and moccasins. with blue blanket over
a checked shirt, such may be purchased in any
store for a dollar. His headdress was made OF
the skin of a red fox. He also breastplate
made of small bits of carved bone strung together,
by the Great Father at Washington years ago
when he made pilgrimage there in company with
seven other chiefs.
Surrounded by the head men Of the tribe, the old
chief made a remarks to his followers. He
told them that for thirty-flve years he had been
at their head but that it time to give
the lead his eldest son, Horse Chief about
forty years old. He spoke OF the good record the
tribe has with the authorities and told of councils
in which he had engaged with the Great Father at
Washington. always for the purpose of promoting
friendly relations There a transfer of tribal
symbols, and the old ruler down and out"
The into mis- own
Throughout all their ceremonies the hundreds Of
Indians present squatted about the leafy bower
which sheltered the dancers and gazed stolidly at
the whites that present Settlers drove thirty
and forty miles to witness it. A few spectators
by rail- but these came only from nearby
towns.
Visitors obtain a poor idea of Indian housekeep-
ing while watching the performances of the dan
GERS. Near the dancing ground is killed. All
day long the flesh lies the bare prairie under a
blazing hot At intervals squaws cut off por-
tons. toss them into washboiler which rests on
fire, and boil them. Then they dump the cooked
meat out the grass for any who wish to eat
At many of the tepees fresh meat is hung on
poles, drying in the broilng sun. The odor may be
a delight vultures and, though it does not seem
be at all annoying TO the Indians it is disgust
ing in the extreme to the paleface visitors.
One of the Attractions" Of the camp this year
Running Deer. aged squaw, who is looked
up to with great veneration by all members of the
tribe Her age is not known, out ii is certain that
she is well past the century mark She looks the
part She is toothless and stone blind with face
wrinlled like that of & mummy. Yet when the
braves about the drum chanting she lifted UP
her harsh and Earring falsetto voice with theirs.