The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-05-06
A TALE OF CUSTOMS And HABITS
OF THE BLACKFEET INDIANS AS A TRIBE
Rules That Governed Their Mode of Living Were
In Sense Cruel and Barbarious and
Brought Sorrow and Suffering
THE SUN DANCE A SACRED DIVERSION

might ask the girl il she wanted the
fellow and il she did not like him che
united the horses AID freed them,
They would run or walk away drag
! ging the rope and the young fellow
knew that he was dismissed. II It
was agreeable with the girl and
the members of her family, her ac-
ceptance was indicated by the father
going out and signaling the waiting
brave, who would walk back and en-
ter the tepee. The father would
talk with him and tell him that they
were willing and then he would take
a seat by the side of the maiden and
take up the corner of her blanket
and lay it across her shoulders or
draw it about her form, then she
would take the other corner and
hang it on his shoulders. That COM
pleted the marriage ceremony, but
If she did not place the shawl cor
ner on. his shoulders the case was
still pending.
They Knew Not What They Did
Selections in marriage made with
out the opportunity Of acquaintance
or association, and the chance to
learn each others dispositions
naturally resulted in some mistakes
such are recorded in the divorce
cases OF the present day under the
head of National Dissimilarity, and
often when they came to really know
each other they might simply de-
spise each other. In such cases
there was temptation to form attach
ments for others, but here is where
their rigid morality rules come in,
Punishment for Wife
1t was the mans privilege to hunt
and take another wife and retain
them both, but it was not womans
privilege to establish any affection
with any other man. If she did, any
one of the friends of the husband, If
he had knowledge of it, was in honor
bound to report it to the husband.
He was in the position of the grand
juror among the white people, who,
If he knows of the crime, is bound
to report it, or report the informa-
ton he has indicating a crime.
They were in honor bound not to
misrepresent or do an injustice to
the woman. When the information
amounted to an absolute certainty
the husband and sereval of his
friends went together and took the
woman to a tree, wrapped rope
about her and the tree, binding her
arms down by her side and when Sc
curely bound the husband accused !
her and she admitted that it was
true. He could not forgive her if |
he wanted to. He was in honor |
bound to keep the rules of the tribe |
and he could give her her choice of |
punishment, either to have one or
both ears cut off, having the end of
her nose cut off, or the end of the
nose and upper lip cut off or being
shot to death. When she expressed
her choice the husband walked away
l few PAGES and one of the friends
the punishment that
she had chosen. II a man loved his
wife much he could express it to her
before she made choice of punish
nent, or she could plead with him
or mercy and have the punishment
ightened, but when once it had been
the company were in
honor bound to complete the task.
t the maiden's face was disfigured.
" the cutting, she wore a little
'iece of cloth over it to conceal it.
Sorting of the Sinners
The Sun Dance among the Black
eet Indians was sacred ceremony
nd only those with clear record
or morality were permitted to en-
age in it. When the people were |,
IL assembled for Sun Dance, the