The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1924-08-15

Whether Montana's Indian tribes
will follow in the footsteps of their
Wyoming brothers in the Observ-
ance of the Sundance, remains to
be seen. Overriding the object
tions OF Indian Agent II. p. Haas,
Shoshone and Arapahoe Indians re-
Gently INDUCED in the forbidden
Sundance, a sacred ceremony which
lasts three days and three nights.
Out at Fort Washable, 16 miles
from Lander, wyoming, the Shoshont
tribe spent several days in their pre-
parations. The huge pole in the cen.
ter of a circle of poles represents the
Diety or the sun and the IL poles OF
the circle may be the tradition which
has come down through the ages
numbering the twelve tribes of He
brews. Around the outside poles,
bowers of brush were built for shell
ter when the Indians fall exhausted,
The place was lighted at night by
huge bonfire. A smudge was built
near the circle and into this smoke
the dancers would go from time to
time to be toasted by the heat in the
belief that the soles of their bare feet
were toughened for the ordeal.
All Attend the Ceremonies.
Every Indian of the reservation
attends these ceremonies. More than
1900 from infants on the backs of
squaws to the oldest woman or brave
able to get there circled the ceremony
grounds. They cook as best they can
for those who dance but that seems
to be an incidental matter with them
on an occasion of this nature.
The ceremony is wierd. Within
the circle of poles the Indian braves
dance almost constantly for three
days and nights. Each dancer has a
bone whistle between his teeth and as
he exhales and inhales his breath the
sound augments the wierd music of
the tom toms. Back and forth to-
ward the center pole some mince for
ward with half-inch hops. head
thrown back, while others with sway
ing bodies and little hops approach
the pole and back again until deep !
paths are worn in the ground.
During the time of the dance the
braves take neither food nor drink. |
If one breaks away to the stream
nearby for refreshment, it is his loss
of the blessing which they believe
comes to those who endure.
Sunrise is The Climax
The squaws and children stand R
about the circle watching the dancing l.
and taking part in the singing to the
music of the drums. The dance
reaches it's climax just as the sun
rises above the horizon each morning,
the braves throwing themselves and
crying out with blood curdling yells.
the pole they throw
their arms about it as though seek
ing protection and help. The de-
scent of spiritual power seems to fall
upon them then, giving health and
strength as well as forgiveness of
sins.
At times the sick among the tribe
are brought within the circle of the :
dancers. They are lined up and the :
participants dance about them, strik-
ing their chests with some instru- =
ment believed to transmit strength /
and health to the diseased ones. The I
teaching of healing by faith and by !
prayer seems to be part of the be- T
lief of the red man and the efficacy
Of the Sundance is considered a po-
tent factor of life.
Dance To The Finish. I,
BY the end of the third day and the u
beginning of the last night the In
1ians can scarcely crawl or utter a u
sound. Their togues swollen by II
thirst, their bodies, almost nude,
show heavy lines of fatigue with fac .
IS drawn and tense they move back y
and forward to the pole with automa- a
toms almost crazed by hunger and
exhaustion. With the faint streak of K
lawn the braves throw their arms Of
20 the east and begin the last lap of in
he dance. Reaching climax as the la
'irst beams of light from the rim of 81
he sun strikes the dancers the dance b'
ends with paroxysms of physical ex- eC
srtion and wierd yells and groans re
hat are impossible to describe. h;
The sight must be seen to be ap- til
,reciated and when the word went ST
tut that the dance was to be held
people travelled hundreds of miles as
o see it. W
Many View Rites RI
Federal authorities had come to be- ST.
ieve that their restrictions would al pc
Ways be respected by their wards and at
hat the Indian had banished forever a