The Ghost Dance :: essays research papers

The tad DanceIn January 1889, Wavoka, a Paiute Indian, had a revelation during a check eclipse of the sun. It was the genesis of a religious bowel movement that would become cognise as the Ghost Dance. It was this trip the light fantastic toe that the Indians believed would reunite them with friends and relatives in the ghost world. The allegory states that after prayer and ceremonial occasion, the existence would shatter and let forth a great flood that would drown all the whites and enemy Indians, leaving the earth untouched and as it was before the settlers came to America. The religion prophesied the tranquil end of the westbound expansion of whites and a return of the land to the Native Americans. The first trip the light fantastic toe was held by Wovoka in 1889. The ritual lasted five successive days, being danced severally night and on the last night continuing until morning. Hypnotic trances and oscillation accompanied this ceremony, which was supposed to be repe ated every six weeks. The ceremony also had rhythmic drumming and introduced many new musical instruments into Indian religious ceremonies. In addition, both men and women participated in the dance, unlike opposite Indian religions in which men were the primary dancers, singers, and musicians.Word spread right away and the Utes, Bannocks, and Shoshone tribes accepted the Ghost Dance. Eventually, the plains tribes also accepted the Ghost Dance movement. The peaceful message of fancy was uplifting to many Indians. It gave them a sense of hope that the progress of the white man would be stopped by the go away of Nature. While adopting the movement, many tribes added specific customs and rituals that reflected the tribes individuality. The Sioux, for instance, added deuce specific elements including the use of hypnosis to bring about trances as well as aid in communication with the dead, and Ghost Clothing. There are 2 specific types most commonly used, the ghost shirt and the ghos t dress. both were believed to protect the wearer from bullets. Sitting mark, a famous Sioux warrior, adopted the ghost dance into his way of life. He was a respected leader, medicine man, and warrior. His following of the movement alarmed both the military and Indian Agencies. In 1890, just a few months after attending his first ghost dance, Sitting Bull was killed while resisting arrest. His followers fled and joined Kicking Bull, one of the first to exercise with Wovoka. Donning their ghost shirts and with their beliefs firm in their hearts, the followers of the ghost dance were travel up at Wounded Knee creek and killed while resisting arrest.