Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1942-02-27
Northwest Indians, Victims of Superstition,
Seldom Violated DUN Strict Code of M0ralitu

Ss0es0e has said the life OF an
Indian was devoted TO ritual. He
might have said the Indians, like
sthef primitive people, were the
victims Of superstition. They were
continually placating some malig-
nAnt power, or adoring a benevO-
kent enc. Most of them, II not all,
wsshipped the sun. II was some
thing they could see and feel To
Il they attributed the benefits they
received, and justly. The sun fur
nished light and warmth, and It
made the grass grow. on which the
buffalo, their chief dependence for
food, fed. Like the ancient Teutons,
they daily worshipped their deity
from some neighboring hill or
mountain top. They also worship
ped the earth and other heavenly
bodies. and cndeavored to propi-
tiAte the lightning, or thunderbird,
and the fierce cold of the winter,
under the name Of "Cold-Maker."
Dreams had a great influence over
their lives. Naturally their dreams were
often of animals. One of these so seen
was likely to be adopted as the medi-
cine, or charm of the dreamer, hence
forth to be tremendously cared for, in
the belief that it would protect from
harm, its owner 1t was not necessary
to have live animal; its dried skin
was held to be equally efficacious in
time of need. This skin and other OBJ
tects included in the sacred bundle.
had a prescribed place in the lodge,
and was treated with the greatest re-
spect. When the day was fair, the
medicine was carried outside, but in
case Of storm, or at night, 1t remained
within.
There was difference in the power
of these charms, which could be dis
covered only in times of trial. Their
medicine is stronger than ours" was
a self-respecting way of explaining
their defeat in battle. One would not
expect such timid animal as the
beaver, or a fox, to be of aid in such
a time, yet these frequently served as
medicine.
If we are to believe some writers,
Indians, almost without exception,
were grossly immoral. This is not the
testimony of many other writers, who
knew them we'll. Nature is a Judge not
swayed by Partially, and those who
break her laws, whether through ig-
norance. or knowingly must suffer the
extreme penalty for the offense.
Undoubtedly there were immoral In
dams, as there are immoral white
men; but much of the immortality at
tributed to the Indians was direct
result Of contact with the type OF
white men they first knew. These. 1t
will be remembered, consisted largely
Of fugitives from justice. Certain 1t IS,
II Indians were as depraved as some
have pictured them, nature would soon
have wiped them out of existence.
DR.. Charles Eastman, himself an
Indian, said that while the social life
of the Indian was extremely simple, 1t
was governed by religion that con-
stituted a moral code. THE women do
not associate freely with the men out
side of the family. and even within 1t,
strict decorum is observed between
grown brothers and sisters. Birth and
marriage are guarded with q peculiar
sacredness as mysterious events. Siren
uous out-of door life and the discipline
of war subdue the physical appetites
of the men, and self-control is re-
garded as a religious duty" DR.. East
man further said that among the
Sioux it was originally held that chill
dren should not be born into a family
oftener than once in five years, and no
woman was expected to bear more than
five children"
The Indian went to war for the same
reasons that actuate the white men.
He fought to win territory where bet
ter hunting could be found; to gain
wealth, which for him, after their in
PRODUCTION into this country, meant
horses; and not by any means the least
of his reasons for going to war, was