The Cheyenne Sun Dance Megan Schneider Tribal Religions

The Cheyenne Sun Dance Megan Schneider Tribal Religions February 8, 2016

Introduction • The Sun Dance is one of the Great Ceremonies performed by the Cheyenne and many other Plains tribes. • The Sun Dance is important for world renewal. Its importance stems from its purpose to re-create, to reform, to re-animate the earth, vegetation, animal life etc.

The Cheyenne • Nomadic hunters living on the Great Plains. • Buffalo were of great importance to survival. • Lived in band camps formed of several related kindreds – band camps come together forming a tribal camp for Great Ceremonies such as the Sun Dance.

Religion: Important Features • Animistic • Religious practices to relate to the spirit beings so that life can be enhanced • Spirit beings – Generous in blessings – Knowledgeable – great teachers • “The Universe is essentially a mechanical system which is good in essence, but which must be properly understood and used to keep it producing what humans need and want” (Hoebel, 1978). • Sun Dance: Central theme of world renewal

Sun Dance Origins • Long ago there was a famine and the tribe was starving. The hero, Erect Horns and the Chief’s wife journeyed to Sacred Mountain where they were taught the Sun Dance. • When the pair left the mountain the entire earth turned fresh and new and the buffalo followed them to their homelands.

Sun Dance Overview • Ceremony pledged by individual, the tribe is reborn and increases in numbers • Held in the summer months – Game was plentiful allowing for the bands to come together in one camp • Only occurs if someone has pledged (not every year) • Lasts eight days – First four days: Building dance lodge and secret rites in the Lone Tipi (symbolizing Sacred Mountain) – Last four days: Public dance in Sun Dance Lodge

Important Aspects • Sun Dance illustrates the belief in the connection between man’s actions and the renewal of animals and the earth. • Four is an important number, many times four passes would be made whenever picking something up or setting it down. – Symbolic of the four medicine spirits • Four cardinal directions • Torture used to be practiced before outlawed by the government – Small skewers inserted into the chest of a man. A lariat was attached to the skewers and to the center pole. The man would dance through the night until the skin was ripped – Skewers and buffalo skulls attached to the man’s back • Sickness would leave the family and they would enjoy good health

First Four Days • Day 1 – Inside the Lone-Tipi, the ground is cleared exposing barren ground • Symbolizing that the earth is beginning to grow • Day 2 -3 – Five earths are traced on the ground • Represents the buffalo wallow and the buffalo renewal – Sacred pipe is smoked and offered to the earth • Day 3 • This gave the world a blessing so all would grow and be abundant – Buffalo skull placed in Lone-Tipi • Day 4 • Skull moved four times drawing four buffalo herds before being placed on the ground – Buffalo skull prepared, painted red with black and white lines • Red representing the earth, white day, and black night – Sun Dance lodge erected – Sacred songs and dances performed • Songs to draw the buffalo

Last Four Days • Day 5 – Altar dug in the Sun Dance lodge and the painted buffalo skull was placed at the back – Dances performed with heel raised from the ground • Signifying the desire that the earth may be blessed • Day 6 -8 – Fasting and dancing – Sweat bath • Purification and to maintain the medicines they had received

Symbolism: The Center Pole • At the center of the Sun Dance lodge stood a center pole with a fork at the top. • Bundles of cottonwood and dogwood were placed in the fork. – Representing the nest of Thunder-Bird who controls the sun and the rain. • An arrow with dried meat was placed in the bundle. – Representing the buffalo • During the raising of the center pole, the sacred pipe was raised and songs were sung, each song resulted in the pole being moved forward. The fourth song resulted in the pole being completely raised. – Songs relate to the growing earth – Pipe directed to the great medicine spirit

Summary • The Cheyenne were nomadic hunters living on the Great Plains who depended on the buffalo for survival. • The purpose of the Sun Dance was for world renewal. This illustrates the belief in the connection between man’s actions and the renewal of the earth and the animals. • Lasting up to eight days, this ceremony incorporates many symbolic representations of the blessing of the earth for the earth’s renewal.

References • Dorsey, G. A. (1971). The Cheyenne Indians: the Sun Dance. (1 st ed. ). Glorieta, NM: The Rio Grande Press. • Harrod, H. L. (2000). The animals came dancing: Native American sacred ecology and animal kinship. Tucson, AZ: The University of Arizona Press. • Hoebel, E. A. (1978). The Cheyenne: Indians of the Great Plains. (2 nd ed. ). Chicago, Il: Holt, Rinehart and Winston. • Powel, P. J. (1969). Sweet medicine: The continuing role of the Sacred Arrows, the Sun Dance, and the Sacred Buffalo Hat in Northern Cheyenne history. (1 st ed. ). Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press. • Timber, J. S. , & Liberty, M. (1967). Cheyenne memories. Binghamton, NY: Vail-Ballou Press, Inc.