The Fort Peck press., 1936-04-09

dress"
LESSON THREE
/. Right hand held in front OF shoulder
elbow to wrist in angle of 40 degrees, pair
held outward, fingers held as claw OF eagle
bring hand in sweep to left shoulder, a
hand approaches shoulder clinch fist-"Des
piSe you' or contempt Tor you"
2. A number of persons present. Move pain
of right hand in front of them, to call thei
attention, then turning Palm down NOV
hand in a circle two or three times <mean
ing "all of your then same signs as IL
No. II despise you all"
8. Three fingers of both hands, ends o.
them, placed on first Joint of middle finger
index finger of both hands vertical, right
hand arms length in front, bring index to-
ward you two or three times, left following
alternate, then clinch right hand and bring
to breast-'I like you"
4. Then, in same position as before, open
palm and throw it over to ht-"Frlendshi
ceases, we are enemies
S. Interlock fingers of both h q n d S,
C"Friends'D then clinch both hands ano
bring to front arms length, then spread
cease'') three fingers of right hand in palm,
thumb on first Joint of middle finger, index
vertical, throw back of hand over to right.
1.-The next time,'O then the three fingers in
palms of both hands and thumbs on first
joints of middle fingers, place hands at
arms length in front wide apart, bring IN
dex fingers within six inches of each other,
owe meet") then clinch both hands and
bring them within two inches of each other,
move them forward and back, ("fight'D-
Enemies Next time we meet we fight"
LESSON FoUR-Iesson on Animals
1. Extend both hands in front Palms down,
left in front, right under left, bring back OF
right up to palm of left two or three times
Indicating beaver striking the water with his
tail when swimming or diving. Beaver"
2. Left hand in front palm down, thumb
right hand in palm, and bring right hand
down with slanting motion under left, twist
ing hand when extending arms length (div-
ing)-'Otter."
8. Ends of the three last fingers of right
hand in palm, thumb on first Joint of middle
finger, index vertical, held Is inches in front,
wave hand and index finger to right and left
two or three times-"White tail deer"
4. Third and little finger in palm of right
hand, ends of middle and index fingers placed
side by side, ends of thumb placed on nails
of index finger, bring hand 10 inches, move
hand from right to left in a half circle move
ment and flip fingers off of thumb as the
hand reaches extreme left Of the movement,
two times bounding deer)-'Black tail deer"
LESSON FIvE-Lesson on Animals
l. Bring both hands to hips, back of hands
to front. Index, second and third finger
bent under toward palm; thumb and little
finger erect, move hands forward twice, 8
or 4 inches Indicating grubbing)-"Bear."
2. Another sign for bear which is more
easily understood is as follows: Bend all
fingers toward palms, thumb placed on first
Joint of index finger, bring hands up to and
within 6 inches of each side of the head,
move hand and wrist backward and forward.
This is meant to describe the bear when he
is alarmed and sits up to discover if danger
is nigh.
3. Three fingers in palm and thumb placed
on first joint of middle finger of both hands,
then bring the hands in front ID inches
apart, index fingers curved, to indicate horns
Buffalo
a. Three last fingers in palm of right hand,
thumb on first joint of middle finger then
bring index finger across the wrist of left
rr1 tUrO or thrpa tinonc (Cnnttadl then make
5he sign for buffalo-'American cattle or
spotted cattle"
LESSON SIx-Lesson on Animals
The following sign is only generally known
among tribes who inhabit the country west
If the Rocky mountains, EXCEPT Piegan,
3loods, Blackfeet and Stony Indians, who
iwell east of said range.
l. The ends of three last fingers placed
n palms of both hands and the end of
humb placed on first joint of middle fingers,
ndex held vertical in front. bring, with a
raceful curve motion, to each side of head
ndex finger pointing to rear. Then bring
he back of right hand under chin, all fin
ers pointing downward indicating goatee
r beard)-'Mountain goat"
2. Fingers and thumbs of both hands held
acing each other Indicating long carr
critical, bring both hands to side of and
lst above head, palms to front, turn palms
8. Same sign as above, except to bring
he right hand to front held edgewise, lower
and down (meaning small animaD-"Jack-
4. Bring right hand down from left shoulder
wrist, all fingers pointing to left Gndicat-
lg fringe)-"White Weasle or Ermine."
This animal was held in great esteem by :
tribes, used for war bonnets and among S
ANY tribes also for war dresses. 1t took six {
of this animal to trade for head and I
I'll robe.
LESSON SEVEN /
These lessons in Indian sign language are l
II young and enterprising young American /
1uths who have a desire to preserve the I
cret of conveying thought ''by hand" (
This is destined to become a lost et in v
lie near future as young Indians of the pres {
1t age take little interest in the language f
hich was used by their sireS in the PAST. d
hen the tribes met in counsel, either for d
or war, the sign language was used v
not a word being spoken. Follow il
g are some illustrations: Il
End of three fingers in palm, thumb placed r
first Joint of middle finger, right hand a
Id in front almost arms length, left hand
Id eight inches nearer and on a line
tn the right hand and breast; the ends
both index fingers bent toward you, move y
th hands at same time from you four il
then bring them toward you four n
cheS, repeat twice-"To smoke" Then hold ii
it hand in front, bend four fingers toward
I'm thumb placed on nails of index and e
idle fingers then bring palm of right hand B
Wn twice on upper side of left h~and-"Fil
e pipe, let us smoke CT
Bear in mind, young gentlemen, that the b
owe sign is primitive and used by all tribes II
len in counsel with other tribes, or in gen. m
al tribal counsel. Each chief or leading ri
crrior will make a speech. They will some VI
mes make three speeches, seldom four. When 't
e chief of the lodge where the counsel is
Id, extends right hand palm down he means So
old on" Clinching both hands, bringing
I'm in front close together, then spreading 10
en- apart from right to left, signifies stop" to
en he makes the sign Fill pipe and h
oke.'
LESSON EIGHT W
Following are signs of certain Indian tribes: az
When you meet an Indian and want to ri
d out what tribe he belongs to the follow h;
signs will assist you: I'll
Move open palm before face of the indian, of
aiming what tribe do you belong to?" Then
d the three fingers of the right hand to in
I'm, thumb placed on first Joint of middle IS
ger, bring index finger across throat from I'll
t to right-'Are you a SiouX?' If Sioux tn
will respond with the following signs: y
ice ends of three last fingers in palm of
hit hand, index finger vertical, thumb
ced on first joint of middle finger, bring yo
nd in front with a quick downward mo- wi
n of the index finger-"Yes.' If not Sioux &C
will make sign of the tribe to which he th
ongs. pc
Both hands extended to sides, palms down.
I'd, move both hands up and down, initial jo
a crow or a goose flying-"Crow" or pc
Indians" a
,lose four fingers in palms of both hands
/ bring lower side of thumb of right hand gu