The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1912-10-26
HOW 1T FEELS TO BE AN INDIAN

wife recently spent a part of their
honeymoon in the Glazier National
Park, in Montana. During their stay
there they were adopted by the Black
feet Indians. In the Oct. 18th num-
Der of Leslie's, there is an article by
Mr.. Heinl describing his stay among
the Indians, from which we repro
duce the following account of the
ceremonies of adoption as practiced
by the Blackfeet:
when an Indian. is friendly to a
white man, he cannot do enough for
him. They are generous to degree.
Chief Three Bears, erect and very
cid, began the ceremonies. First,
was asked to sit with the Indian
braves, on the floor and about the big
fireplace. Al. was silent, until the
Indians began, softly at first, to beat
their drums and sing a weird chant.
AS the music grew louder and more
animated, the aged Three Bears
arose solemnly and began to dance.
had been invited to take one of the
musicians places beating, drum,
and then the peace pipe was handed
to me- 1t had been circulating about
freely, but only once during the en-
tire day did they offer it to me. The
teats of memory the Indians display
in performing these day-long cere-
monies is little less than marvellous.
The whole thing must be correctly
done and no detail sighted. If not,
misfortune will surely follow
Three Bears, after the dance, adj
Vanced to where I was and babe me
stand up. Then he spoke, and the
words interpreted were that his peo-
pie, the Blackfeet Indians, had de-
cided to take the tall white man
(meaning mel into their tribe and
that in the evening there would be
more dancing and ceremonies, at
which time my Indian name would
be revealed. After this, each Indian
danced and spoke in turn. | replied
to EACH Finally, Lazy Boy, a pictu-
rescue and generous brave, arose
and, taking off a beautiful robe, all
nounced that he would like to pre-
sent it to the tall white man. Then
Fish, a handsome, 1.-the young Eel"
low, stripped to the waist, laid aside
his war bonnet. He danced with
wonderful grace and abandon, win
ming tremendous applause. We shook
hands all around, and the Indians
went to their tepees to make good
medicine and powwow over what
should be the proper name for the
tall white man. Il
Il was just adjoining myself in H.
dian costume at our chalet when
there was a knock at the door. In
walked Medicine Owl and his wife,
painted and feathered as We had new
er seen them before. They could
speak no English, but we offered
them chairs, and with signs and
friendly grunts Mrs. Medicine Owl
made it clear that she desired to
present my wife with dress, which
she had brought along-a most gorge
Gus affair, trimmed with shells, beads
and steel sewing thimbles that clink
ed together and sounded like little
bells. Mrs. Medicine Owl asked my
wife to put the dress on at once.
She helped adorn her in the Indian
costume, fastened her belt, and took
two beaded bracelets from her own
wrists, which she presented to The
pale faced visitor. Then Medicine
Owl and his wife gave mods and
grunts of satisfaction.
"They wrapped each of us in a
blanket, and then led us to the lodge
where long before the big doings
had started. Such war Whoops as
greeted us when We entered l nev-
or heard except at Buffalo Bills. The
Indians were seated on the floor in
d great half circle before the fire.
My wife was asked to sit with the
squaws on one side. l sat with the
braves on the other.
"There was wonderful dancing al
most continuously, old Chief Three
Bears always in the lead, and every
once in while we were invited to-
join in. It is good form on such all
occasion to whoop things up most
any old time. Chief Three Bears
then made the big speech of the ey.
ening, which wound up by informing
those present that his tribe had de-
cided to name the tall white man
Black Eagle. He said that the new