The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1905-02-17
QUEER CUSTOMS 8F;
WISCONSIN INDIANS
Menomonees of Badger State
Still Cling to Ancient
Rites.
NO FATS IN MEDICINES
In Cases OF illness, Dancing and Drink.
ing Are Supposed to Materially
Assist in Efeetins a
No FATS IN MEDICINES

milwaukee, sentinel: But few OF The
church people III WISCONSIN realize that
while they are supporting foreign mis-
sions. yet living in their OWE state, with
in a stones throw of white uci.hbors and
withia len miles of q railroad. is Il tribe
of pagan Indians who neither believe in
The Christian religion nor ia the science
OF medicine, While they nave learned to
til the soil like the white men, and the
sQuaws run sewing machines and other
modern cOnvcniences. they nevertheless
retain their primitive custom OF. having
medicine men look after sickness and
conduct the medicine dances.
y person passing along the Wolf river.
where it runs through the Mcnomonee
reservation. will notice a white flag high
up on the bluff. II one follows "A winding
trail for 100 yards from The road he win
see the flag. which is a faded American
one. floating at half-staff in I. pagan Gem
etery.
The buriai place is FAR different from
that of the whites. There are thirty-thrce
graves. cach one covered with a wooden
roof, which is supported by sidings of TWO
logs, In the rear OF each OF these is a
shelf. upon which water and food are
placed, and a hole cut so that the spirit
may come cut and eat and drink. There
is also a faded American nag at the end
of each grave.
y short distance from the graves Is a
frame of wigwam, II by 70 feet and about
u feet high III the center. Six months
after each burial this is covered Will
lankets and skins. aud the medicine
dance is held for the departed spirit. AT
these there is much dancing. feasting and
drinking, for it appears TO be no trouble
for The Indians there 10 obtain liquor,
During the interval between the death and
the dance the place of the deceased is set
at the table for each meal during the six
months and the amount OF food which he
would have had if alive is placed there.
! If a visitor happens in at meal time he
is given the food. which is considered Il
high honor. If no one appears it is eaten
by the family.
If one of the tribe is taken sick n dance
Is held ut his place. where the Indians
ali gather for an all day dance. and eve
more feasting and drinking than at the
cemetery. Up 10 Il few years ago there
Was no drinking at these festivals, hut
those living in that neighborhood report
that the Indian no longer considers the
affair a success unless all get drunk. AS
the dance progresses the sick person sits
at one end of the wigwam, and the medi-
cine men. with their faces painted and
carrying their medicine. which was man.
ufactured from herbs, in mail snake skins
or the hide of a small animal. dance in Il
circle. AS they pass the victim they
threw some OF the medicine on the one
To I've treated and push him over. II is
tole that at one of these dances a squaw
whose husband had died was obliged to
appear Oh a cold winter day in a light
dress, with face painted and otherwise
gotten 10 for the occasion. and compelled
10 run through the snow in the woods for
hais a miles in u zigzag course, so as to
lose the spirit.
One of the most interesting characters
on the reservation is Frank Corn, the old
est medicine man OF The lot. Corn is tho
only living Indian in Wisconsin who par
tieipated ia the Black Hawk war. and
while he does not know his age he points
to his height and motions to show that
lie fought with q bow and arrow. being
too small for firearms. He is now fast
failing.
A short time ago the bone in his right
leg panied him.. and to treat IL he cut thu
flesh until the bone was exposed, ana
! placed some of his own medicine on the
diseased part. Now when he is approa he'd
by u white man he is willing to ask for
advice in his case: for he will state To all
visitors. Bad leg. Meat good. bone sick.
What helps?" One person Informed him
that a white man would cut 1t off if it
was his, and since that time the old In
dian is not so anxious for the white mans
aid.