In this dance, Lone Chief imitated the actions of a bear coming from
its winter den; and sang while he danced:
“I wander in the summer.”
Then he took the Pipe, and holding it in both hands, sang:
“Sacred Chief, every one shall see you.”
He slowly raised the Pipe, that all might see it, and sang:
“The Chief is powerful.”
After that, they beat on the drums and sang bear songs, while Lone
Chief arose and danced like a bear, holding his hands as a bear does
its paws; and imitated a bear by putting his feet together, moving
backwards and forwards with short jumps and breathing hard; he also
imitated the awkward motions of a bear running, digging in the ground
and turning over stones for insects.
For the Thunder Dance, Lone Chief blew shrilly on his whistle, made
from the wing bone of an eagle, to represent the sound the Thunder Bird
makes with its wings when it first comes in the spring; also the time
the bear leaves its winter den. Then he danced, holding the Pipe in his
right hand and spreading out the fingers of his left, to represent the
wings of the Thunder Bird.
During the singing of the Swan Song, Bear Child danced alone. He
represented the chief swan, the leader of the flock. He made the swan
sign, by holding both hands extended with fingers spread out in
imitation of a swan flying.
In the Antelope Dance, Red Fox made motions with his hands to imitate
an antelope running; and moved his head like an antelope on the alert
for danger.
When the drummers sang the Crane Song, several dancers arose. They all
gave the crane call and imitated the motions of flying cranes. Several
songs were sung for different water birds and for ducks and geese. And,
after a short rest, while both men and women smoked, seven owl songs
were sung; and buffalo songs for the white-skin band worn about the
head of the pipe owner. The ceremony came to an end with the singing of
the Good Luck Song for Wolf Plume, the new pipe owner; thereafter, he
must always sing it if he wanted anything very badly.
At sunset, Lone Chief and his wife led the new pipe owners outside the
lodge. They faced the four directions in turn and sang:
(Towards the west)
“Over there, towards the sunset, are the mountains.
May you see them as long as you live.
From them you will get your sweet pine as incense.
(North)
“Over there, is the star-that-never-moves (Pole Star).
May you live to see that star for many years.
(East)
“Over there, you will get old age.
From the east comes the light of the Sun.
(South)
“Over there, are warriors coming with scalps.
May the warm wind of the south bring plenty of food.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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