The Saint Paul globe., 1905-04-23

the examination was at the north
shore, thence westward and southwark
until the entire shore line of Mile Lao
mad been traversed. Then commenced
the second examination, which was ex-
| tended to more detailed examination
This was continued in GEO., during
winch season the entire body of water
was again encompa SSed by these exam
nations The Importance. of those eX-
amlnatlons revealed a positive condi-
non which proved that the large num-
Der of burial scaffolds used by the an
clent Dakota people unraveled the his
tory OF the construction of earthen
mounds in Minnesota. 1t was shown
positively that the Sioux people re-
| moved the bones of their dead from the
tops of their scaffolds to the surface OF
the earth barricading the remains by
the construction of tumuli.
Mysteries Explained
The object of this article is to de-
scribe some of the peculiarities of the
present day existing among the Ojib-
way people, who by the force of arms
nave become the successors of the
Spirit Lake villagers, so called, be-
cause the mysteries of the region were
sutnclent to create a doubt in the minds
OF the people who resided there as to
Ine true character of the waters of the
| lake.
1t was finally determined to nav
wan We yay cum ig a visit at Saga
Wamlck bay, where every arrangement
mad been made to celebrate the mys-
| terles of medicine dance, for the pur-
pose OIL initiating seven candidates
INTO the various ceremonial perform
ances which the Ojibway people were
In the habit of conducting once each
year. The chief directed us to estab-
llsh our camp in the midst of his VIII
lases where all the ceremonies were
under a course of preparation, includ-
ing various representations for in
struction to the class, the moccasin
game, Russian baths feasts and con-
ferences. AT the end of eight days,
without any cessation, those who were
TO be initiated into the mysteries OF
the medicine dance had been suffi-
ciently instructed to create the neceS-
sity of setting the outlines of the med
lelne lodge, which was built along
through the center of the village by
the erection of stakes and the con-
struction of can inclosure. The head
! men then proceeded with all the mys-
| teries of the medicine dance PERFORM
| ances.
Secret Held by One
1t seems that there was only one In
dian in the Ojibway nation who was
able TO give the last word and the
highest sign which constitute the final
instruction in that lodge.
BY a mere accident, through no fault
of the writer of this article, the very
old and worn birch bark chart of that
| medicine lodge came legitimately into
his hands With the knowledge OF
those people, that bark chart has been
published and made copyright in 1901.
On return visit to one of the princi-
pal men of the Mile Lac band a long
conversation was held concerning the
uses and purposes of the chart in ad-
dition to the descriptions which had
been given through a competent inter-
prefer at the time the medicine lodge
was in process of completion. His
name was Sa gutch u, a member of the
| Bear family. When the chart of the
medicine lodge was exhibited to Sa
| gutch at Mile Lac he demanded to
| know by what authority | was In pos
session of the ancient and honorable
document of his people, which bore to
| them the great significance to their
| lives, happiness. religious beliefs, Gus
| toms and ceremonial performances.
| The explanation which followed was
, entirely satisfactory to Sa gutch u. He
| yielded to the request for an entire de-
| scrfption of all of the intricacies and
| peculiaritieS of the chart descriptive
| of the life line, which extended at the
| opening of the medicine lodge through
the various proceedings to the highest
| order for the government control and
A
which were sacrediy performed during
/ the several weeks of time when the
| uses of the medicine lodge were under
way for the instruction of the seven
candidates who were that year ini-
ttated into the mysteries of the medi-
cine dance.
Words of Sa gutch
After deliberation the solemn words
of Sa gutch u and the remembrance of
all 81.
messed at the medicine dance indicated
just as high an order of purpose, intent
and final elimination among those in
nocent people was was ever performed
In any of the churches connected with
higher civilized life. The true intent
of those simple people in these various
ceremonies carried them to a pitch of
enthusiastic religious belief which
created In their minds every detail OF
the transposition of human privileges
from the time when the child was born
until the ceremonies after the death
Indicated the deepest religious senti-
ment and most perfect manner of ex-
pressing their subservience to divine
Maker and a certain religious expec-
fancy. The chart of the medicine lodge
hangs in the library rooms of the Min
neSota historical society without any
protest whatsoever from any of the
people who originally created it, for the
the true beliefs of the Ojibway nation
in their hereafter as they pass from life
to the mysteries of the hereafter.
The writer of this article was i'm
pressed after long continued study
of the information which was gained
in contact with those simple people
that theirs is a religion and belief as
pure as the driven snow.
The chart and all the items of in
formation that were written down at
the time in field books will pass into
the anthropologic history of Minnesota
as perpetuated facts.
The locality where those ceremonies
were performed and the chart created
carries the Indian nation back into
the past SO far that their remem-
brances are too dim to indicate the
time when. that region first became an
Indian paradise.
It's environs are symbolized in the
savage mind by specific and deter
mined religious beliefs and customs too
indelible to be effaced from fixed be-
liefs so firmly intrenched in the minds
OF the children of the forest that their
manner of procedure has a continuous
and fixed purpose.
A Leual Poker Hand