Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-07-06
PAINTED BRAVES PARADE.
Ne1 PeTce Chiefs Lead Long line ~
Gaily Decorated Indians.


I Gaily Decorated Indians
/ FORT LAPWAI, Idaho, July e.
! Inc nonchurchgolng or "renevaao,.
indians Of the Nez Perez tribe IL
Aether with chiefs and notable II.
qians from various other reservations
la Montana and Washington. gave am
oid-time Fourth Of July celebrat,on
ana war dance yesterday and last
nlght, and the celebration VIII, con.
Einue for week.
A village of tents, arranged n tba
lorm Of an oval, pitched in A grain
heid' Is established on the camp
ground. Near this oval figure Is a
large, circular text, in which the war
dances are held.
The parade was led by chiefs from
other tribes, while daughter Of
chief Joseph represented her father
py riding fine steed, bedecked in
ner fathers regalia. The headdress
pr feathers, the buckskin costumes
rlchly ornamented with shells. heads
ana elks teeth, the blooded horses
some OF the finest ever seen in this
country-pa painted and ornamented
with spots, dots and hands placed
upon the hair of the blooded animals
al presented a sight which win he
long remembered.
The parade was arranged by plac-
ing the Indians In the order Of their
rank. The horses, with their he
decked riders, first passed Just inside
the line of tents on slow walk, their
riders holding themselves erect. pre-
senting a stately appearance. New
saddles and rich accouterments add
ed to the showiness of the rest. After
the chiefs and their representatives
IN the parade came the descendants
OF the chiefs and other celebrated In
dians-the aristocrats.
The beadworS was beautiful
Whole dresses of beads, saddles with
high horns in front and behind, were
almost covered with rich ornaments:
brides, tekases leases for holding
and carrying pappooses), great drap-
cries surrounding their fine horses
and reaching almost to the ground.
and the velvet dresses covered with
silver tinsel; buckskin and velvet
vests, buckskin moccasins and Leg
gings and trousers of almost solid
beadwork-made the parade dazzl-
ing.
After encircling the line of tents
in walk, the horses were urged for
ward to a fast trot, and then into
run, accompanied by yells from
their riders, The men carried tom
ahawks or pipes of peace.
Following the march on horseback
the horses were put aside, and the
big circular tent was entered. They
were shown seats by attendants-sit-
ting around a circle near the edge of
the tent, leaving the central part for
the speechmakers, which in turn were
followed by the war dance. The
tom-tom or drum was sounded, the
wild and weird chant was set up, and
as the tones became louder, the dane
ers arose and began their peregrina-
lions, each representing some animal !
AS they danced round and round, |
each from time to time uttered the |
sound of the animal he was repre-
senting.
Finally Indian women and children |
took part in the dance, while others
took turns in looking on as interest
ed spectators, or cried and walled |
piteously as the scenes before their
eyes recalled other days and absent
ones.
The church Indians were all at |
the revival meetings now being held
at Sites, and there was neither Sun
day school nor church held at the
Indian church in Spalding yesterday. |
SOCIALISTS SELECT TICKET.