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Tina Katsanos
LBST 2102
originally resided near the base of the Arkansas and Platte Rivers on the
Great Plains, which are now Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas and Nebraska.
Oklahoma and later the Treaty of 1868 pushed out the Northern Arapaho and
placed them with the Shoshone in western Wyoming where they live today,
on the Wind River Reservation. With many rituals, taboos and beliefs, I have
chosen to focus in on The Sun Dance, a beautiful and empowering ritual that
days involving the actual dancing during the last two summer months, July
and August (CEH). Although by the name, The Sun Dance, one might think
this ritual would involve dancing, praying or singing to the sun gods for
dance focus their energy centering around a time of prayer and sacrifice for
families within the tribe. Participants of the dance will not eat or drink
prayer and forgiveness. A prayer is said before the ceremony from an elder
who prays for not only healing for any individual but that everyone in the
tribe follows the righteous way that is in approval of the one above. He also
prays for prosperous vegetables such as corn and that the agriculture will be
blessed. This is a time for asking The Great Spirit (one who is understood to
be the creator, all-mysterious, all-powerful one above) for many good deeds
on the entire tribe and the many children to come in the future. Fertility,
health, prosperous agriculture, peace, love and many more attributes that
bring together a great society are all danced over, sang over and prayed
over throughout this blissful ceremony. To me, this ritual falls under a
change in the state of human health. The Sun Dance involves praying for
discussed in class that offered insight into the different types of rituals
among different indigenous people, there is another type that also has very
change in nature so that humans benefit in some way. Because of this, I had
a hard time classifying the Sun Dance as just a therapeutic ritual. The Sun
Dance also involves praying for all of the crops whether presently being
the tribe and keep them healthy. Not only does the Sun Dance seek healing
for the sick but it also involves other attributes mentioned above. With that
being said, one could argue it would fall into both categories. However, I
have decided that the main basis of the ritual is to ask for healing to any sick
peoples in the tribe and therefore deciding on the therapeutic type of ritual.
The Sun Dance also includes to using of many ritual objects such as
the Flat Pipe. This is known as the tribal medicine of the Arapaho, and has
This supernatural power from the flat-pipe is sought and applied by the
Indian not only to the purpose of healing the sick but also to obtain control of
natural forces, success in hunting, good luck, strength, long life, and safety
and victory in the hour of battle (Carter, G. John). The flat-pipe is held within
the sun dance lodge where members of the dance come to worship, give
sacrifices and pray over it. Sacrifices of food and cloth are brought and the
cloth gets laid on top of the pipe. Members can indulge in the food that is
brought as a way of being peaceful with the pipe. The flat-pipe is often called
standing individual within the tribe. People fast with the pipe, take it on life
and spiritual journeys, pray to the pipe and even hold it to find comfort in
anything that is pressing. The pipe is a very sacred ritual object not only
because it is used within the Sun Dance ritual but also because it is widely
respected within the tribe as an item that holds all powers, the Creator.
Being as the Sun Dance is one of the most sacred of rituals within the
welcomed, they are only welcomed if they respect the tribes rules.
Photographs and videos are not allowed during the ritual along with any
notes or drawings depicting what goes on during the ritual. Many members
from other Native American tribes also attend the event and come from all
over (CEH). The Sun Dance is one of the most beautiful, sacred and
currently held each year at the Wind River Reservation in western Wyoming.
Works Cited:
"Dance & Music." Dance & Music. University of Colorado, n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2017.
PublicationsoftheFieldColumbianMuseum.AnthropologicalSeries,Vol.4,THEARAPAHO
SUNDANCE;THECEREMONYOFTHEOFFERINGSLODGE(June,1903),pp.i,iii,vxii,
1228
Carter, John G. "The Northern Arapaho Flat Pipe and the Ceremony of Covering the
Pipe." Smithsonian Institution, n.d. Web.