Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-10-10
"Ofering Dance"
OF Indian. Seen
By Pale Faces

Geary, Okla, Oct. 10.-The "OHer-
ing dance" OF the Arapaho Indians Of
Oklahoma, which closed here ate in
August, was witnessed n chronicled
by the pale-face for what Is believed
to- be the first tin1e. The Offering
dance Is he final ceremonials to be
borne by candidates for the highest
degree in the strongest religious fra
ternity Of the tribe.
The ritual was witnessed by a party
Of Oklahoma City physicians and
nurses who visited the encampment
Of Arapahoes. who were being visited
by he. Comanches, Cheyennes and
Kiowas, during a study Of skin dis
eases Of the Indians being prepared
for the United States public health
service.
A member Of the tribe and a Ice
turer on Indian folk lore for. a. ma,
uOnai museum was present and ax-'
planned much OF the ritual to. Dr..
Everett s. Lain and to DR. Claude b.
Norris: leaders of the party
Witnessed By Six Whites
Six white persons in all witnessed.
the ceremony.
More than 1000 Indians, in all.
In preparation for the Offering.
dance also called the Willows Dance
q huge lodge was constructed about
rs feet in diameter.
1t took several days to complete the
lodge, according to members OF the
tribe, as each pole going into It's con-
%atruction was blessed separately by
tribal priests.
Guard lines were thrown u by the
Indians SO that mo unlimited ~
could witness their ceremony.
Clever Warden. the lecturer, said
the foundation for the order extends
GU Rn- h@~ly $h1k .@4~xSSnr IN k~ihoJ
interpreters. the moons which have
elapsed since that time have gone
from the memory even Of tradition,
and the tradition and legend extend
back hundreds of seasons"
Candidates for initiation may make
application to join, after they have
committed some extraordinarily brave
act; have been fearless in leadership,
renowned in politics of the tribe. or
in some way distinguished them
selves greatly, the interpreters told
the physicians.
Two Of the candidates were veter-
ans Of the world war. One had been
the center pole a altar fire, or sacred
fire, as it was called. was kindled.
Half a dozen warriors beat rythmic-
ally on a tom tom during the dance.
The candidates first tasted for two
days and then offerings for the great
SplE1L- were UEOuSHL Ill NY, Lie dJu
dates, who placed them within the
sacrifice grounds and stopping thrust
a buffalo tooth into the ground. The
warrior who followed had to locate
the tooth and re-thrust 1t into the
ground. Then the feast Of h year
was brought in. The candidates, how
ever, did not participate.
Bodies Painted.
Standing, they extended their feet
SO that the soles touched live Goals.
Without making any soutcry. the
to the painting Of their bodies by the
They were allowed to choose the
color with which they were painted,
according to the tribes interpreter.
II they chose white, It was taken to
mony as long as they were able with
out Complete physical exhaustion. II,
However, they chose yellow, 1t waa
explained, the warrior had pledged to
continue. the ceremony to the end,
though he should endanger his2life by
30 doing.
that through h entire Ceremony tbs
wives OF all the married candidates
had been enduring their fasts and
tests behind a nap in the rear OF the
lodge. They were kept hidden from
the initiated. however, until h con-
clusion Of the ceremony.
The beating Of the tom tom ross
and became a roar and the. dance was
begun. J.
For forty-eight hours they danced
Those who endured won h degree
. Those Who did not have the privilege
OF trying again the following year. y
WAS explained.
This dance often y confused Will
the sun dance, which has been pro,
4 Inhibited by the federal government
but is not akin to the sun dance.
~ Soon after the hnal dance tn
.Itepees were disTnantied and b ara
vans OF Indians departed over tn
Oklahoma plains.
When a nj once thoroughly un
dersSands the ins and outs OF q whea
!, corner he stays out.
Don't think because eat looks tn
picture OF tnnQcence fnat It Is wise 4.
q leave II alone With the canaFy.