Observations on the thunder dance of the Bear gens of the Fox Indians / by Truman Michelson.

  • Truman Michelson
Date:
1929
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Observations on the thunder dance of the Bear gens of the Fox Indians / by Truman Michelson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    And again Young Bear asked whether (any food) would be done so a contest might be held. (The ceremonial attendant was) a To'kan, John Jones. “Ho, it is done.” “Then you may serve it.” “Very well.” Then he borrowed wooden bowls which had been brought there. He began serving (the food) while it was hot. (The first bowl) was toward the east, near the door. By the time he completed serving (the food) he used six bowls. And he placed them in a circle, (each bowl) opposite (another). As soon as he was done (he was told by Young Bear): “You shall go about inviting from here, inviting your fellow O'ckA'ces. This Jack Bullard shall (go about) from here inviting Ills fellow Kl'ckos. You (John Jones and Jack Bullard) will sit opposite each other facing the (dog’s) head.” And they each invited three. The Kl'ckos who were invited were Wanatee, Sam Slick, and Wakaiya. And the To'kans, Harvey Lasley, Sam Peters, John Jones who ate the head, and Sa'sagino'kwa'A (a woman invited by John Jones). “It is all. Verily they are now seated.’ ’ The crier was told, “You must yet stand facing the west as soon as I have finished spealdng. ” “Very well.” “Ho, it is merely a rule that you should take (the food) from each other when a contest is held. The reason why we are rivals to each other is that our families are arranged that way.30 And we did not (invent this): those who blessed our old men must have made the ruling. You must try very hard to be quick. Do not spare each other. For this is what you should contrive to do: whenever you see the end of the war you should have a contest with each other so as to give each other glory. That verily is exactly how Bear Hide has done well in remembering our grandfathers the Thunderers col¬ lectively in dedicating his tobacco to him—they must have blessed our old people together—and his pet, his dog, when he remembered them, and (in dedicating) a soup of the harvest crop which he cooked together (with his dog) for them. Verily they must have blessed him with life. So to-day his life is just beginning, for he did not, so be it, know what (was going to happen to) himself in the future. ‘Simply bless me in the way you blessed those upon whom you took pity. We, of the last generation, to-day live wretchedly as we do not know even what a single day (may bring to) ourselves. And whenever you go by you have usually the reputation of not simply blowing with your mouths.30a And you must quietly contrive to blow away disease from us.’31 Verily a To'kan (Thunderer) is the one whom he first asked (for a blessing) and as many followers as he 50 That is, some of each family are To'kans and some are Kl'ckos. Free rendition. •i Said by Bear Hide. 105113°—29-4
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