The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1904-12-09

of the tipis were of cow-hide decorated
with paintings of the events in the
lives of their yners, and the camp
was a very interesting place for the
crowds of visitors who were in the
city at that time, many OF whom had
never seen Indians before.
Chief Hump is the chief of the band
but all matters of tribal interest are
settled in the grand council where all
chiefs assemble. In their dealings
with the whites they leave the details
of contracts to be settled by q COM
mittee, usually of three, selected from
the council. Chief Spotted Horse was
duly appointed treasurer OF the tribe
for their Pierre visit, and received
all money due them and paid out what
was needed for general use, as directed
by the council.
The band arrived at Pierre on
Thursday the 9th of October, and
gave a festival OF typical Indian
ceremonial dancing and oratory, ex-
tending through several days, the most
notable and interesting part OF which
was the exchange of courtesies between
the venerable chief and Governor
Herreid.
On Friday morning, twelve of the
chiefs, headed by Hump, and accom-
panied by Ed Swan, the interpreter,
and Mrs. Charging Eagle paid a visit
to the rooms of the State Historical
Society, where Mrs. Charging Eagle
set up properly the hide tipi which
chief Hump had made for the society.
The chiefs then made a formal call
upon Governor Herreid who spoke to
them saying that he was glad to see
- - 80. -.,al s~ta,pactn1 IN tbnrn
and their people, all OF whom he would
like to help to a better citizenship.
The governor advised them that hon
esty, industry and temperance were
virtues which should be constantly
practiced, and told of John Makes-It-
Long who was in Pierre on one of the
Sundays of the big crowds, but who
attended church instead of mixing
with the throngs of sightseers. He
further advises them to take their
lands in severalty: then they would
know what was their own and would
have a greater incentive to work.
The governor stated that there was
every reason why a descendent of the
M~inneconiou Sioux might yet occupy
the gubernatorial chair and admin
lister the affairs of state for the people
; of South Dakota.
The chiefs listened to the governor
with becoming gravity, and in reply
thanked him for his interest and said
they would tell their people what he
had said. They spoke incidentally
of their claim to the Black Hills, but
there was no discussion of the SUBJ
iect.
In the afternoon, Governor Herreid
returned the visit of the chiefs by 60
ing to their camp. He was accom-
panied by his stenographer. d. v.
Stratton and was met at the camp by
Mr.. GoOdfellow. He made the round
of the camp accompanied by Alfred
Bear Flying Oyer The Water, who
acted as interpreter, after which he
attended the dance which the Indians
gave in his honor.
THE HISTORIC SIOUX DANCES
The dances were deld at the opera
house as being the most convenient
place, though the stage was not large
enough to show the movements and
costumes to the best advantage. The
house was packed every night with
interested and appreciatiye spectators.
Several different dances were 0iven,
as follows:
The "White Dance" INDUCED in by
the bucks and squaws with the chill
dren in the center and around the
ring. All dance in a circle with a
shuttle step keeping time to the music.
This is a dance of pleasure with no
particular significance.
The "Fox Dance" is INDUCED in
by the noted chiefs who have per-
formed some act of bravery emitting
them to admission to this order. This
organization resembles our secret
lodges and is very exclusive, only the
highest and bravest chiefs being al
lowed to enter, and they are obliged
to submit to a very severe initiation.
The "Grass Dance" is similar to
the Fox dance except that the par
Elephants are all young Indians.
The Victorious dance" is per-
formed by squaws and young girls in
honor of the braves and in celebration
of the daring deeds of their husbands,
brothers and lovers.
The "Owl Dance" is one which the
Sioux learned from the Grow Indians,
and resembles in a small degree our
square dances except that there is no
calling.
The "Omaha Dance" is the best of
all and is INDUCED in by all, both
| yOuuS dAu Olus f1IuCI a SuOTU ClECu.
lar dance, all but the chieftains just
returned from the recent war retire
forming a circle in the center of which
are placed the materials for the feast.
Then the triumphant warriors enter
the ring decked only in the breech-
clOut and paint and go through the
ceremony of preparing and blessing
the food for the coming feast. When
this ceremony is completed, all re-
ceive their portion of food and then
the warriors, two at a time, proceed
to enact their valorous deeds and to
show the dangers they dared and the
trophies they have won in the war
from which they have just returned.
After this acting they rehearse their
prowess in impassioned oratory and
then join the feasters, while another
pair comes forward to set forth their
deeds of daring by speech and action.
One of the most pleasing of the
scenes was the group of children TAX
ing their first lesson in dancing. The
old men seated at the tomtom in the
background looked on approvingly
L u = 1870