The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1924-08-14

Near Lander.
whether Montana's Indian tribes
will follow in the footsteps of their
wyoming brothers in the obsery-
ance of the Sundance, remains to
be seen. Overriding the object
tions 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-
p%arations. The huge pole in the CEN
ter of a circle of poles represents the
Diety or the sun and the II 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 we're 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
1000 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 seem
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
ome 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
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 l
crying out with blood curdling yells. {
Approaching the pole they throw 5
their arms about it as though seek $
ing protection and help. The de- I
scent of spiritual power seems to fall 9
upon them then, giving health and I
strength as well as forgiveness of q
sins. Y
At times the sick among the tribe I
ara brought within the circle of the E
dancers. They are lined up and the !
participants dance about them, strik- I
ing their chests with some instru- :
ment believed TO transmit strength I
and health to the diseased ones. The I
teaching of healing By faith and by I
prayer seems to be a part Of the be- /
lief of the red nan and the efficacy :
of the S~undance is considered z po- {
tent factor of life. a
Dance To The Finish. I
BY the end OF the third day M the :
Of the last night the In
dams can scarcely crawl or utter a I
sound. Their togues swollen by 1
thirst, their bodies, almost nude, :
show heavy lines of fatigue with fac B
es drawn and tense they move back I
and forward to the pole with automa- a
toms almost crazed by hunger and
exhaustion. With the faint streak of K
dawn the braves throw their arms o
to the east and begin the last lap of il
the dance. Reaching a climax as the /;
first beams Of light from the rim of 8
the sun strikes the dancers the dance b
ends with paroxysms of physical ex- e
ertion and wierd yells and groans r.
that are impossible to describe. h
The sight must be seen to be ap- Il
preciated and when the word went 81
out that the dance was to be held
people travelled hundreds of miles al
TO see it. W
Many View Rites r
Federal authorities had come to be- 81
lieve that their restrictions would al p
ways be respected by their wards and al
that the Indian had banished forever a
q