Plains Indians Essay -- essays research papers

For many tribes of Plains Indians whose bison-hunting culture flourished during the eighteenth and 19th centuries, the sun dance was the major communal religious ceremonial occasion . . . the rite celebrates renewal - the spiritual rebirth of participants and their relatives as well as the mutation of the living earth with all its components . . . The ritual, involving sacrifice and supplication to subvent harmony between all living beings, continues to be practiced by many contemporary native Americans. -Elizabeth Atwood LawrenceAs the most important ritual of the meandering(a) Plains Indians, the Sun dance in itself presents many ideas, beliefs, and values of these cultures. Through its productive symbolism and complicated rituals we are able to catch a glance into these peoples view of the world. A Sun terpsichore is held when a man feels the neediness to be a dancer to fulfill certain wishes, primarily "for his deliverance from his troubles, for supernatural aid, an d for beneficent blessings upon all of his people." (Welker) It is this dancer who usually bears the expenses of the Sun Dance (Atwood), including a feast for all that comes to the celebration. (Welker) Motivations behind the Sun Dance varies moderately between tribes. The Crow held the ceremony to seek aid for revenge for family members killed in warfare. The entire event surrounding the Sun Dance generally lasts from quaternion to seven days, though longer events exist. On the first day a tree is selected to serve as the sun-pole, the relate pole for the Sun Dance Lodge, or New-Life-Lodge, as called by the Cheyenne. (Atwood) The selection of the tree is usually through with(p) by the eldest woman of the camp, who leads a group of elaborately spruced up maidens to the tree to strip off its branches. On the next morning, right as the sun is seen over the eastern horizon, armed warriors charge the sun-pole. They attack the tree in effort to symbolically kill it with gunshot s and arrows. Once it is dead it is curve down and taken to where the Sun Dance Lodge will be erected. (Schwatka) "Before raising the sun-pole, a fresh buffalo head with a broad centre strip of the back of the hide and tail (is) even with strong throngs to the top crotch of the sun-pole. Then the pole (is) raised and find out firmly in the ground, with the buffalo head facing toward the setting-sun." (Welker) The tree represents the center of the world, connect... ...mbolism and ritual involved with the Sun Dance we can more fully understand the character of the Plains Indian cultures. The Sun Dance shows a tenaciousness between life. It shows that there is no true end to life, but a cycle of symbolic and true deaths and rebirths. All of nature is intertwined and dependent on one another. This gives an equal ground to everything on the earth. "Powerful animals exhibit two physical and spiritual powers, just as the medicine man and shaman do, and as do the grains of tobacco in the sacred pipe." (Smart p. 527) However, just interchangeable the rest of nature, humans must give of themselves to help keep the cycles of regeneration going.SourcesAtwood-Lawrence, Elizabeth. The Symbolic Role of Animals in the Plains Indian Sun Dance. http//www.envirolink.org/arrs/psyeta/sa/sa1.1/lawrence.html (Feb 3, 1997) Eliade, M. (1975). Myths, Dreams, and Mysteries. New York harpist and RowKehoe, Alice B. (1992). North American Indians A Comprehensive Account. New Jersey Prentice-HallSchwatka, Frederick. (1889-1890). The Sun-Dance of the Sioux. century Magazine. Pp. 753-759.Welker, Glenn. The Sun Dance http//www.indians.org/welker/sundance.htm (Jan 7, 1996)