The Sisseton weekly standard. (Sisseton, Roberts County, S.D.) 1892-1929, 1911-07-21
INDIAN CELEBRATION
On the Shores of Lake Traverse
Graphically Described by a
Correspondent.
Contributed: /:

Contributed:
A large number Of Indians con
gregated near the Redthunder
church on the shore of Lake
Traverse, July 4th, to celebrate
the anniversary OF the birth OF
this country in their own tradi-
tional style. They were joined
by the white people of the sur.
rounding country at that place,
in remembrance OF the glorious
, event.
The valley where the gathering
took place is scenic one. En-
closed as it is by a string of
hills on the west in the shape of
"A half-circle, which are partial
ly covered with brush and foliage
in all it's beauty, and bordered
by the placid waters of Lake
Traverse on the east, the whole
scene, as formed by the circle of
tents and teepees encamped in
the valley as of old, was one OF
picturesque beauty and gave
fair idea to the visitors Of how
the Sioux, with their white
friends celebrate the Fourth of
July, and how the traditions and
customs among these Indians are
perpetuated from one generation
to another. Indeed, the bird s.
eye view Of the valley durin!
khis gathering could easily have
resolved itself into the master
piece of some imaginative artist
or the creation of a fanciful writ
er of poems or fiction
On Tuesday, being the 4th,
shortly after daybreak, the his
toric pasAime and tradition, one
Of the Oldest and most sacred
customs among the Indians of the
Siodx tribe, i'm expression of the
honor they feel in belonging to
this nation, was staged with all
its various and intricate nlaneu-
vers, and was witnessed by a
large number Of people. This
tradition is known as a sham
BATTLE" and when properly stag
ed by the whole tribe, or large
number of them, it is one of the
most picturesque and exciting
scenes imaginable.
/: The "sham battle" as the ad-
.iective word indicates, is simp-
]y an imitation of the BATTLES
which used to be fought in prim-
tive time, when the Sioux was
wont to enter into mortal combat
with the much-hated common
enemy-the Chippewas-and it is
enacted every year by the Sioux
ON each receding Fourth of July,
to perpetuate it's existence as a
tradition. 1t is generally and
most successfully performed at
daybreak, to be in keeping with
the idea that in Indian warfare,
or the primitive warfare as
known among the old Greeks in
history, an enemy would make
the attack at the dawn Of day.
After many days Of careful pre-
paration on the part Of each
participant, during which time
much painstaking work is done
by the wife, mother or sister,
with the needle, and much think
ing done by the participant about
the art Of self-decoration with
paint, feathers and, in some cases
buffalo horns, the participants or
actors secretly gather together
in some hidden ravine, there Ito
cover and bedeck themselves and
their horses with brush and
branches to hide and protect
themselves from the enemy, eacl
rider having dressed in all his
paraphernala of warfare includ-
ing the artistic work with the
brush and paint, to arrange the
formation of the attack to be
made upon the circle of tents and
teepees and other preliminary
steps to be taken. Then sudden
ly but upon a word or movement
Of command, the riders form
into a compact body and swoop
upon the tents at top speed. the
occupants having remained an
xiously unaware as to the move
ments of the attacking party and
where same is to be started.
The riders, having reached the
circle of tents, dash into the
circle and Then keep the run just
inside if it and in front of every
tent and teepee, thus affording
the mon whO romainad, of bo,oo n