A story from the indigenous peoples of the United States relates how the term "Rain Dance" came into being. The story holds that, during the days of the Native American relocation, certain religious ceremonies (amongst them the Rain Dance and Ghost Dance) were banned by the government. The tribes in suppressed areas were forbidden to perform the Sun Dance. The Windigokan, a nominally cannibalistic sect, nicknamed "the backward people," became famous for telling federal representatives that the dance being performed was not the Sun Dance, but the Rain Dance, thus preventing any prosecution or federal intervention. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rain_dance Comments? Is rain dancing still practised? Or has it succumbed to cultural genocide? I once did a rain dance, it was fun to wear the feathers and secretly hope for rain. Very long ago of course. For a school play.
That's interesting. I hadn't heard anything about that. The Sun Dance part, anyway. I had known about the Ghost Dance which was only a recent dance anyway without a long tradition like the Sun Dance. The Ghost Dance was, of course, supposed to make the White Man vanish and return the world to how it had been before his arrival. You're getting into Native American history and mythology, eh, Sam? Mind if I recommend a good book on Sioux myths? It's called Seven Arrows. The Sioux myths, all oral tradition, are remarkably psychological and poignant. Far more compelling and applicable to human nature than any other myths I have read. The book also explains a great deal about the Sun Dance and the Medicine Wheel. Native cultural ceremonies are still practiced. In fact, at present they are on the upswing. Powwow, is what the gatherings are called and are quite popular these days. Indians of different tribes even get together to compare rituals.
Yeah, I've been reading on it since the Thanksgiving discussion, there are many echoes of Eastern culture, which leads me to believe that there may be a link in the past. Do you know anything about the origin of Native Americans? PS Thanks for the reference, presently I am reading Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, very poignant book.
I've also enjoyed reading: A Sorrow in Our Heart: The Life of Tecumseh by Allan W. Eckert. http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/055356174X/ref=sib_dp_pt/105-5748502-3110045#reader-link
Just Google a tribe and see what they have in their links. There are hundreds of tribes so pick the ones you are more interested in finding out about.
