Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-23
NORTHERN LIGHTS
BELIEVED GHOSTS
Chippewa Indians in Min
nesota Cling to Old
Religion.
BY THOMAS r. HENRY.

BY THOMAS r. HENRY.
The dancing northern lights over the
vast evergreen forests are the ghosts
of the dead making merry in the noli-
day attire of the mysterious spirit land.
This is a typical fragment of the
picturesque religion, Legendary and
social customs of the Chippewa Indians
of Northern Minnesota, an exhaustive
study of which by Miss Frances Dens-
more is the latest research project COM
pleted by the Bureau of American
Ethnology of the Smithsonian Institu-
ton.
The Chippewas, among whom Miss
DenSmore spent much time collecting
original data are among the most color
full of all extant Indian tribes. Although
they long have been in close contact
with the white men, they retain most
of their primitive customs, though
these probably will disappear with
another generation. Miss DenSmore
studied especially child life among
them, throwing a new light on the care
full rearing and education of Indian
children.
Families, she recounts. had on the
average only two or three children. The
birth of child in village was gen.
orally the occasion of a good-humored
mock battle for the possession of the
infant. The child's relatives, led by the
father, would assemble at the wigwam
prepared to protect the new arrival from
all the male members of some other
family who would try to obtain 1t. A
battle would follow with flour and water
until every one was wringing wet. II
the attackers managed to get the child
the fathers family had to ransom it.
Protection in Cradle Board.
The little one was kept in cradle
board, made soft and warm with moss,
until it was able to walk. This was
carried on the mothers shoulders. The
little one was treated tenderly and had
plenty of toys. Small wooden hoops
containing networks of yarn resembling
spider webs were hung from the cradle
board to catch any evil spirit approach
ing the child Children usually were
spoiled by their fond mothers, who
hated to hear them cry, and used to
pacify them by letting them suck on
hollow pine cones filled with maple
sugar.
AS the children grew older there
were many games based on the super
stitions of the great forests. The most
Densmore was the windigo game, some
what like the Halloween festivities of
white children. The windigos we're
mysterious forest spirits One boy was
chosen by lot to play the part. He
made himself look as horrible as pos
sible by tying leaves around his head.
Then he hid in a clump of bushes. The
other children formed in line, each
holding to the others belt, with. one
of the older boys armed with a club as
the leader. When they came near the
windigo's hiding place he rushed out
with frightful yells and tried to grab
one of the younger children and pre-
tend TO eat it while the others fought
him off.
Manhood at Age of IA.
When a boy was about IA years old
he was initiated into manhood His
face was BACKED and he was carried
by his father some distance into the
forest to hut in tree. Here he was
supposed to fast for about week until
he received a vision which would indi-
cate his course in life. Some prominent
object seen in his vision became his
good luck talisman. Dreams and visions
played a large part in the lives of the
ChippeWas, and some strange incidents
were related to Miss Densmore in en-
tire good faith. Old men and women
told of having witnessed objects, such
as an American flag, which they never
saw in reality until many years later
Great credence was placed in the
dreams of children When family
was in trouble the little ones were
looked upon as oracles who would re-
ceive information from some mysteri-
GUS source which would solve the diff
f1culties. Names of individuals were &C
uuired from their dreams and we're sup
| posed to bring good luck.
The love-lorn youth among the Chip
peWas had a hard road, as Miss Dens-
more records the progress of courtshir
and marriage. The girls were closely
| guarded. If young man wished to call
on a girl he talked first to the older
members of the family who lived next
| to the door of the lodge. If they liked
| his appearance they would admit him
to the center of the lodge, which was
reserved for the young people where he
could talk to the girl in low tone
But she could not go out walking with
| him.
If he came to call late in the evening
when the fire had burned low. the
mother or grandmother would stir the
! fire, light her pipe, and remain up until
! the visit was concluded She never took
her eyes off the couple. Sometimes a
sutton would play counting flute" out
side the wlgwam, but the girl could not
go out to him.
Deer Killed for Parents.
If his intentions were serious he killed
a deer and brought it to the girls par
ents. If they liked him they asked him
to stay and help them eat it. This was
considered approval of an engagement
and thenceforth he was allowed to come
and go with more freedom. Jealousy
among girls over a desirable sutton was
marked feature of Chippewa life ano
hairpullings were frequent. The "golo
digger" got short shrift. One popular
way Of putting her in her place was to
duck her In a mud hole
Death was looked upon as short but
difhcult journey to the land of departed
spirits. At a funeral all the relatives
would gather about the dead person ano
/ tell him. one after the other to be care.