The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1914-10-15
STRANGE DANCES OF INDIANS.
Fancy Steps Such as Big Dogs" and
''Prairie Chickens"

Northwest, having visited the tribes
of the Cree, the Ojibway and the
Menominee, says the New York Sun.
He is now organizing another expedi-
ton, and will set out soon to con-
tinue his work of exploration and
research among tribes of the North
west in the interests of the museum.
A report of his work in the field
last summer, including descriptions
of the various ceremonials, dances
and customs of the Indians of the
Northwest has been published re-
Gently by the museum. Much Of the
data was obtained from Indians,
among whom Charlie Assinilboine,
Chief Walter, Jacob Bear and An
drew Bear, Spotted One and Four
Clouds.
The collector of Indian data and
trophies was initiated into the ia
nous ceremony of the Medicine
Lodge, Ghich is practiced by the Me-
nominees and other tribes of the
Northwest. The dances and ceremo-
nies described by Mr.. Skinner include
the Windigokan, or cannibal dance;
the big dogs dance. the prairie chick
en-, the sacred pipe-stem and the
peacemaking dance.
Dream of Skeleton Being.
Certain men used to dream of
paguk, a skeleton being, with glar-
ing eyes," Mr.. Skinner says, which
was sometimes seen fitting through
the air. and obtained from him the
right to be Windogokan or cannibal
dancers.
Such a man made for himself a
costume of rags with a hideous mask,
having an enormous, crooked, beak-
like nose, the whole being daubed
with paint. He also provided him
self with feathered staff hung with
deer's hoof rattles. After a council
the Indians agreed to perform this
dance, although it was very unusual.
"A mans dance was held, and just
at dusk, when the dance was started
in the log cabin used for that pur-
pose three dancers we're seen ap-
preaching. One bore cane orna-
mented with owl feathers down, and
others carried green branches with
strips of colored cloth tied to them.
As they drew near they paused,
danced in a circle, performed ludl-
crous gyrations, appeared to be- ter
rifed at stumps, fed from dogs and
were overcome at faces made by BY
ISLANDERS.
Clowns Accept Tobacco.
AT the conclusion of their antics
the people came forward and gave
them tobacco with prayers for good
luck; The clowns accepted the tobac-
co with pantomimes of terror. They
then pretended to smell the gift, and
as each for himself was sure that it
was a morsel of the precious weed he
bent backward and forward, shaking
with outlaws. According to tradl-
tion, whatever they we're told lot to
do that they straightway did. After
ward they withdrew, but paused long
enough for a photograph. The cos
tunes are now in the museum"
The Wetigokan dance is another
one in the series described by Mr.
Skinner.
according to Four Clouds, when
all the people camped together some
one might announce that he would
make a Wetigokan dance, so tent
was set up in the centre of the camp,
apparently in imitation of a soldiers S
lodge, and before it was placed rod
thickly hung with antelope hoofs or
deer claws" Mr.. Skinner says.
Does the Choosing.
The maker of the ceremony, who
was always a man who had dreamed
he had the right to do so, set about
making himself a suit Of grotesque
clothes and a mask with a very
long nose and small eyes and mouth.
When the costume was completed he
donned it and began to sneak about
the camp peering into lodges. II he
found man at home. ne would enter
and point at him with his STAFF, and
that man was then obliged to rise and
join him.
Other ceremonies recorded are the
big dogs dance, the dancers ca crying
bone whistles and little painted
sticks with headed streamers and
brass jinglers pendant: the round
dance, popular performance, IN
which the participants dance IN a
circle around large drum; the
horse dance, the Throwing way
dance" tabooed by the governments;
the sacred pipestem dance, given be-