The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-06
EIGHT BEARS PLAN
OLD TRIBAL DANCE
Macdougal Alley Indians Will
See Blackfect Perform
Rite to the Sun.
DEMING TWINS OVERLOOKED
Sculptor to Set Up Tepee in
Glacier National
Park.

when the Eight Bears OF Macdougal
Alley end up the trail they intend to hit
pretty soon, somewhere In Glacier Ma
tional Park. Montana, and Billie and
Hall. the Deming twins set up their
tepee. tribe OF Blackfeet Indians will
he all primed 10 perform a medicine dance
which has not been seen In years.
Chief Fred Big Top-thats Eagle
Feet's son. who will guide the Bears
when they get to tho reservation IN Juno
dropped in at Edwin willard pemings
studio dwelling the other day, on his
way from Carlisle Indian School to his
tribesmen 10 prepare things for the sum,
mer visit OF his friends. He was in the
Land OF Big Tepees" a few weeks ago.
but Mr.. Deming sprang a surprise on
him last night and that is why the Black
feet dance will be right up to old tradi-
lions Of the tribe.
Some ten years ago when Mr. Demins
was guest Of Chief White Calf. who
adopted him into tho tribe as Running
Antelope. the artist took a few hundred
pictures OF the dance lie got them out
last night and showed them to Fred
The young chief recalled his earlier days,
and while the young Bears sat around
last night-with Billie and Hall and
John. the other papoose, and Henrietta
wide eyed with interest-Fred Big Top
told OF the Indian Significance OF the
dance as the pictures were shown on
lantern slides He danced the sun dance
TO the tune Of the good luck songs OF the
Blackfeet and the playing of an Indian
drum by John. who has become quite an
expert
A,
cine Lodge where Running Crane. his
squaw. performed the dance originally.
For four days the Indians participated
In the dancing and afterward the tepee
fell to Fred Rig Top. who is the only one
entitled TO sing songs that belong TO it,
The prettiest of them all. that which
pleased Henrietta most. was the song
Of the Coyote the favor!te Biackfeet love
song
The pictures, by the way. were new TO
Fred. and at his request Mr.. Deming will
take them with him to the West,
when he goes to gather material for
IA series of panels for Indian Hall
at the American Museum OF Natural
History, and show them 10 the wholo
Backfeet tribe. Fred Big Top told his
friends 40 much about tho dance. how
ever. that when he goes back In day
or two no will have to get his tribesmcn
rchearsing TO prove to Running Anteiope
ana inc otner Bears that the younger
generation lives up TO tho tribes tradi-
tons
Fred Big Top has been busy this trip
teaching Alden and Kathryn. the two
older Bears. the Indian sign language in
which John and Henrietta have already
become proficient. Henrietta donred real
feathers In an Indian head dress In honor
OF his visit, while Billie and Hall just sat
AMI admired him. longing for the days
OF tho tepee out in the open. As a taste
OF what II TO come they are going 10
camp few days at the DeminE home
in Redding. Conn. this week, Tho big
and little tepees which the Bears have
been getting ready viii he set IN tenn
porarily and John will try few shots
at squirrels just for practice
Mr., pemlng has arranged 10 take a
moving picture outht on his trip to the
West, He will also make clay models OF
Indian heads Of his friends IN the Black
feet tribe