Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1914-06-05
DESCRIBES QUEER
indian DANCES
Museum Collectors Report Of
Interesting Observations.
TELLS OF GRoTEsQUE RITES

WYNN seTSVT anu Tt0U 0'ce VOt9ueo ~
the ceIebrants-ciowns In the Windi-
sokan a Curious sight-Psrformer
Past Masters In the Art Of Making
Themselves Hideous.
For several years Alanson Skinner
Of the American Museum Of Natural
History has been conducting expedi.
tons among the Indians Of the north
west. having visited the tribes Of the
Cree. the Oji5way and the Menominee
He IL now organizing another expedi
ton and will set out soon to continue
his work Of exploration and research
among tribes Of the northwest In the
interests Of the museum.
A report Of his work in the Geld last
summer, including descriptions Of the
various ceremon.als. dances and Gus
toms Of the Indians Of the northwest
has been published recently by the
museum. Much Of the data was Oh
tanned from Indians. among whom
were Charlie Assiniboine, Chief Wal
ter. Jacob Bear and Andrew Bear
Spotted One and Four Clouds.
The collector Of Indian data and tro
phies was initiated into the famous
ceremony Of the medicine lodge, which
is practiced by the Menominees and
other tribes of the northwest The
dances and ceremonies described by
Mr.. Skinner include the windigokan
or cannibal dance, the big dogs dance.
the prairie chicken. the sacred pipe
stem and the peacemaking dance.
A Very Unusual Dance.
Certain men used to dream Of pa.
guk, skeleton being with glaring
eyes," Mr.. Skinner says. (which was
sometimes seen fitting through the
air, and obtained from him the right
to be windigokan or cannibal dancers
"Such a man made for himself
costume Of rags with hideOus mask
having an enormous, crooked, beaklike
nose, the whole being daubed with
paint. He also provided himself with
a feathered staff hung with deer's hoof
rattles. After council the Indians
agreed to perform this dance. al
though 1t was very unusual.
"a mans dance was held, and just
at dusk. when the dance was started
in the log cabin used for that purpose.
three dancers were seen approaching.
One bore a cane Ornamented with owl
feathers and down. and others carried
green branches with strips Of colored
cloth tied to them. As they drew near
they paused. danced in a circle. per-
formed ludicrous gyrations. appeared
to be terrified at stumps. fed from
dogs and were overcome at faces made
by bystanders.
Pantomimss Of Terror.
AT the conclusion of their antics the
people came forward and gave them
tobacco with prayers for good luck.
The clowns accepted the tobacco with
pantomimes Of terror. They then pre-
tended to smell the gift fffftt7- end % each
for himself was sure that it was a
morsel of the precious weed he bent
backward and forward. shaking with
| outlaws. According to tradition, what
ever they were told not to do that they
straightway did. Afterward they with
drew. but paused long enough for q
photograph. The costumes 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 center Of the camp, apparent
| ~ in imitation Of soldiers lodge, and
before 1t was placed rod thickly hung
with antelope hoofs or dew claws.
"The maker of the ceremony. who
was always man who had dreamed
he had the right to do so. set about
making for himself suit Of grotesque
clothes and mask with very long
nose and small eyes and mouth. When
the costume was completed he donned
1t and began to sneak about the camp
peering into lodges If heNound a
man at home he 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 carrying
bone whistles and little painted sticks
with beaded streamers and brass Fin
glers pendent: the round Dance pop,
ular performance. in which the part!ci-
pants dance in n circle around a large
drup,. tho hOrSo 1uuco thA.s ..th rOxvin0
way dance" tabO0pd by the govern
ment; the sacred pipestemd dance. given
before going to war. and the peace
making dance. with lighted pipes and
song.
AAE;ll ecall Law. c..a..aAdaA