Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1906-07-23
Glared o.,
By
An Indian God
Charles L. Gurley, in Washington

/. Charles L. Gurley, in Washington
Star:
How much do we know of the
religious beliefs of the uncivilized
American Indians?' What is the basic
theology OF the Chippewayans of the
far north, of the Sioux of the middle
west, of the Apaches of the south? A
residence of several years among the
Sioux and more or less close &C.
quaintance with many of the more
prominent tribes and individuals of
that great nation lead the writer to
believe that white men are never
taken into the confidence of their
medicine men. We know something
of their superstitions and traditions.
The lamented Captain Philo Clark
knew great deal thereof-probably
more than any other man-but once
he said to me:
Beyond the universally of their be-
lief in a Great Spirit and in a future
of reward or punishment beyond the
grave, we are woefully in the dark
A squaw man who dated his resi-
dence in the Missouri r..-er country
from the genesis of the American Fur
company acknowledged that he did
not know what his Indian wife of
more than score of years believed,
nor could he understand some of the
,observances of bis own children. He
knew that both wife and children were
in some degree subject to the domin-
ance Of certain medicine chiefs, but
to the real thought behind the out
ward act of worship or prayer he had
no clew
1t is not intended to deny the ex-
istence of many interesting supersti-
lions, tinged with tradition or nodded
by environment, but to assert that the
whites have never penetrated the San
hedrim of the Sioux and know little or
nothing Of the meaning attached. by
the grim priests to the dances,
Egenufexions and songs they describe.
| Customs Recall Genesis,
| No one can be with the Sioux long
without being struck by the prevail
ance of traditions and customs which
recall Genesis and Leviticus. The
story of the great food, the giving of
the law from Sinai, the crossing of a
sea dry shod, the Inheritance of a
delightful country after many and
ruthless wars-each has its counter
part in a tradition often. recounted by
the medicine man of a tribe to listen
ers always interested and always
credulous. MANY Sioux warrior has
stood naked, for long days and nights,
on the top of ONE lofty butte seeking
by modification of flesh, and spirit to
atone for some sin that brought bad
medicine or to avert some calamity
that the superstition, abetted by
dreams, babe him fear. Wherein did
he differ in controlling thought from
the Hindoo On his pillar or the anchor
tie in his cell?, +
That the Sioux believe in a, Savior
to come the United States had grue-
some evidence in the, ghost dances OF
the early ninaies, and the terrible
climax, at. Wounded Knee, with the
corollary of the death of Sitting Bull
lat Grand river. Porcupine who
preached the coming of the cred
Christ" was one OF the least truculent
LOT Indians and believed that the
Savior of the aborignes would bring
peace, not a, sword. But~his. disciples
scored a bloodless revolution, while
neither they nor their teacher ever
pretended that the idea of a coming
Christ. was new. ,...
H., One belief of the Sioux is as real to
him as it is picturesque to the whites.
He personfes the snghtning and tells
You that the thunder Isl the Noise Of
the hoofs Of the mighty steed ridden
by that glazing god. He will point
Eo.It to You marks on the earth where
Electric bolts have struck and. as
much Of HIS habitat IS mineral land,
these footprints OF the horse. of the
lightning god are not rare. Thunder
storms ii and around the Black HIS
have long been notable for the. acs
conpanying and terrifying Display u
the electric fluid.
Mysterious Canyon Taboo.
It was In the, late summer Of 1877
that the writer, In company with
Lieut.. Fred Kfslingbarg, 18th q. IS.
Infantry; U-su-su.pi lGood.toned- met.
all, Sioux scout. and three enlisted
men as teamsters and cooks, was
hunting on Grand river. about fifty
miles southwest from Standing Rock
agency and frrttv a fssvs r,1ftnSt sSrSstr, Sse