Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-09-19
INDIAN DANCES ARE. !
| Thing OF THE PAST
EXHIBITION At MANDAN FAIR
~ MAY BE THE LAST >ExHl- v
+ =. Sas BITiON.
YOUNGER Generation Of Indians Dc
Z Not Understand Significance OF the
~ Ceremonies.

a. a'l
: Probably seldom again will resi-
dents of this or any other section
see Indian dances, such as were given
at the fair at Mandan this year, for
the entertainment of the crowds that
visited the fair. The real Indian
dances, such as were held in the
olden days, had significance beyond
the simple fact of the dance. 1t was
not matter of amusement alto
.gether, although it was accompanied
by a good deal of mental and physi-
cal exhiliration. AS was said by an
Indian orator after one OF the dances
was concluded, the young people OF
the tribes have outgrown the old
dances of the Indians. Their cir
cumstances and conditions have
changed. They do not understand
the significance of the Indian dances.
and they are being abandoned, just as
other tribal customs are being
abandoned with the civilization of
the younger Indians.
Four. Indians constituted the or
chestra for the dances, and the mus
ical instrument was a base drum,
which; was rhythmically beaten, the
heaters at the same time accom-
panying their music with shrill and
weird cries, presumably to stir the
dancers to greater efforts. An old
Indian was about the outside Of the
circle with a sort of feathered club,
acting as a master of ceremonies.
He seemed to be the director Of the
dance, and saw that is was perform
ed in accordance with ancient rites
and customs. The greater number
of the participants were old Indians,
with shriveled skin and weakened
faces, stopped shoulders and some OF
them with gray hair. They were at
tired in all sorts of fantastic Co.'S
tunes, in which the simple Indian
dress of the old days We'd with
strange assortments of modern gar
ments. For example, one Indian OF
the younger generation, had attired
himself in suit of bright blue
union u Underwear, with breech cloth
ornamen tation of beaded stuff and
Lfeather4. His ankles were: strung
with sleigh bells and about his waist
was belt in which bells were set at
regular lintervals. E1s face was fan
tastically painted, and his hair stuck
with feathers and he seemed the
Beau Btummell of the entire festiv-
tiles.
There were some costumes of the
older Indians that would have de-
lighted the eye of the artist. Buck
richly ornamented with feath-
ers and .beadwork, headdresses 'of
buffalo hide and horns, suits OF
beaded buckskin tanned as soft AS
the softest woolens, flowing hair Or
naments made from the tails of hors-
es, and rivaling the hirstute adorn-
ment of the up-to-date women. And
the dresses of some of the squaws
were remarkable for their assortment
of bright colorings. Beginning at
about the middle Of the skirts were
rows on rows of gaudy ribbon set
around the skirts, the colorings be-
ing as bright as those of the rain
how, red, blue, green, yellow, in sue
ceeding bands, about an inch wide
and running about the skirt. The
sauaws were as interested in the
dances as the bucks, and now and
again stepped outside of the line,
grasped some white spectator and
escorted him into the line OF dane
ers. to the evident amusement of the
Indians and certainly to that OF the
spectators.
iGrunts, shouts, long, shrill cries
and other vocal noises at times nearly
drowned the dull beating of the
drums and the shouts of the drum
heaters. Several OF the Indians
danced in pairs outside the regular
circle of dancers, and did special
steps for the edifcation Of the
crowds. The Indian dances in a,
crouching position, with a queer,
hopping step. his arms moving in reg
lular sweeps and circles. He Is as
much, engrossed with his dancing as
the skirt dancer of the stage. and
for ali that could be determined, the
dance is Just as finished perform
ance in its way. .>'