The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1906-11-22
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INDIANS THANKSGIVING
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Tho interest In Thanksgiving day and
Its observance Is Just as intense these
days among the reservation Indians "a IN
college towns where great football games
are scheduled TO occur. says tho New
York Times. Especially is this true In
the southwest. where the Indians have
had an opportunity To be come thoroughly
civilized OF late years. The white people
ind no moro enjoyment In this day OF
universal good cheer than do these same
dusky redskins.
II In a day OF fcasting. playing and gam
bling. with n big dance at night. such
sport only comes once n year TO them
nowadays. when they have had 10 forsako
tho scaiping knife for tho plow. Their
wild nature rcbc.icd at the Idea OF work.
and q mas been with much difficulty that
the government agents have made farm
crs out OF the young braves. day OF rest
and amusement IL considered good for
their better nature. and the government
authorities are willing that Thanksgiving
day shall become fcstai time for the res
ervat'on wards OF the nation.
The Klowas and Comanches. who have
but recently been placed on ailc.ments.
viii have forsakcn many OF their wild
plans OF amusement this Thanksgiving.
owing 20 tho fact that they have been Gu,
of the free list OF beef issues. They have
arranged 10 draw grass money on Thanks
giving. and a goodiy portion OF this will
be spent In purchasing food for q general
feast. At night they will take part In
green corn dance. at which prayers VIII bc
offered to the Great Spirit for the good
crops which they have had the past sea-
son. The spirit OF thankfuiness pcrvades
tho Indian celebrations.
The Osages hold a big feast ne Pawhus-
ka. their caoitaI city. All members %
th. tribe are invited TO take part In tho
festivities. At tho beginning and end OF
each msai-ani there are many-thc aged
missionary who lives among them In In
vitcd TO deliver n short prayer thanking
the Great Spirit for the good things which
the agent has sent 10 them. The food Is
cooked by the squaws. and while q could
be prepared I'm n much cleaner and moro
tasteful manner. the cooking Is an i'm
provcmcnt over that OF few years gone.
The AracheS and Cheycnncs are In the
habit OF holding n pony smoke. often tho
Osagcs indulge In this expensive festival.
A pony smoke In "a friendly meeting OF two
tribes and Is especially appropriate for tho
occasion. The tribe giving the smoke IN
supposed 10 bear all OF the expenses. They
provide the best game and vegetables In
tho market for their guests, and at tho
end OF the first day's meeting they present
n good pony TO the head OF each family
visiting them. As the tribe consists OF
from 200 10 900 families, the expenses soon
mount high. The Osngcs. being the richest
reservation Indians there are today. can
better afford to hold pony smokes and.
combined with their feast day, they gem
orally invite several hundred guests from
the Poncas. Tonkawas and surrounding
tribes. Those accepting tho ponies arc
supposed 60 return the Gift with equally
expensive ones later on. but few OF them
can do so.
The Poncas hold every Thanksgiving as
n beef Issue day. IL the agent docs not
come forward aud present them with n
herd or cattle for this occasion. they mort
gage their property and buy cattle OF some
ncighboring ranchmen. A beef issue In tho
most typical OF the redskin and also tho
most picturesque OF Indian Thanksgiving
celebrations. For many years the govern
ment has forbidden the issue OF beef after
the manner OF an old time issue. but on
special occasions they are allowed tho
amusement OF killing their own meat. IL
IL said by the government officials who
succeeded In having the practice stopped
that beef issue tends TO make tho Indian
wider and more difficult to civillxc.
A hundred cattle arc turned loose in a
large pasture. The young men OF the tribe
arc mounted on mustangs and have shin
ing field guns. With tho good wishes OF
the squRws and medicine men ringing Ia
their ears they ride out to kill the cattle.
The beasts have no chance for life what
cscr. The chase IL accompanied by an un-
due amount OF Wild yelling. while excite
mcnt grows intense In tho camp. Tn.
smell OF fresh blood makes the squaws
Wild. as Il were. After all OF the cattle
have been shot down then the killers g.vo
a signal which means thai all OF tho tribe
are mt liberty to rush forth and secure
their portion. A half beef II awarded "a
each squaw. The beef Is cleaned and
cooked on n fire on the open plain. while
tho medicine men dance their approval
and the warriors sing In their glee. The
feast follows. with more dancing. and tho
whole day n thus spent. ending late AZ
night with n final gorge.