The Kevin review. [volume] (Kevin, Mont.) 1922-1929, 1924-08-14
SHOSHONES AND
ARAPAH0ES STAGE
FAMOUS sun DANCE
WYOMING TRIBES PARTICIPATE
IN FORBIDDEN RELIGIOUS
"SUN' CEREMONIAL
Most Wierd of All Tribal Dances
Typical of Earliest Days of The
Plains Is Staged BY Two Nations
Near Lander.

Whether Montana's Indian tribes
Will follow in the footsteps Of their
Wyoming brothers in the observ-
ance of the Sundance, repains to
be seen. Overriding the object
tons of Indian Agent r.. 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 Shoshone
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
a 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
fer those who dance but that seems
to be an incidental matter with them
m ~, N4aan;1~ ~ fIs, no4,ro
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
about the circle watching the dancing
and taking part in the singing to the
Of the drums. The dance
reaches it's climax just as the sun
rises above the horizon each morning,
the braves throwing themselves and
out with blood %curdling yells.
the pole they throw
heir arms about it as though seek
protection and help. The de-
scent of spiritual power seems to fall
Upon them then, giving health and
strength as we'll as forgiveness of
sins.
At times the sick among the tribe
ire brought within the circle of the
1ancers. They are lined up and the
participants dance about them, strik-
ng their chests with some instru-
nent believed to transmit strength
Ind health to the diseased ones. The
,eaching of healing by faith and by |
ief of the red man and the efficacy )
II the Sundance is considered a po- s
ent factor of life. =
Dance To The Finish. I
BY the end Of the third day and the I
'eginning of the last night the In
Iians can scarcely crawl or utter a t
ound. Their togues swollen by i
hirst, their bodies, almost nude, Z
how heavy lines of fatigue with fac .
S drawn and tense they move back I
forward to the pole with automa- a
oms almost crazed by hunger and
.haustion. With the faint streak of 4
avn the braves throw their arms o
0 the east and begin the last lap of il
he dance. Reaching a climax as the Ii
lrst beams of light from the rim of s.
he sun strikes the dancers the dance b
nds with paroxysms of physical ex- e,
and wierd yells and groans r.
lat are impossible to describe. b
The sight must be seen to be ap- IL
reciated and when the word went 81
ut that the dance was to be held
eople travelled hundreds of miles as
see it. W
Many View Rites r.
Federal authorities had come to be- ST
ave that their restrictions would al pr
avs be respected by their wards and at
at the Indian had banished forever a
hi