THE PEOPLE OF THE PLAINSSS 9 Ms. Pakkar

The People of the Plains

The Interior Plains and the Native groups in the area

Source: http://nativesofcanada.tripod.com/id6.html

Religion Belief in a great god,

referred to as the “Wakan Tanka” (“Great Spirit”)

Belief that all animals, plants, trees, stones, and clouds possess spirits, which could be prayed to. The Earth as the mother of all of these spirits

Ceremonies primarily held in warmer months when the nomadic peoples united

Image: Shaman or medicine man

The Sweatlodge

Source: http://www.dancingtoeaglespiritsociety.org/swlodge.php

Same source

1880 Photo - Buffalo Sweat Lodge Frame, 1878

Completed Sweat lodge structure during a renewal ceremony in spring of 2005

The Sweatlodge Ceremony Transition into manhood ceremony (boyman) Why? To find a spirit that would protect him in his

manhood Inside the lodge: heated stones (hot water poured

over them) gave off a steam that was believed to purify the boy

Afterwards: the boy jumps into a cold pool of water led into the forest to fast for a few days and seek a vision

The boy would be retrieved and tell his vision to the shaman

Celebration – feast for the whole village

YouTube http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=KG77eUxgqD4

Initiation Ceremonies/Rituals What are they? Can you think of any examples?

The Sundance Varied amongst different

groups Usually a response to a vision,

plea, or prayer to the spirits 4 days for preparation:

festivities started at sunset on the final day of preparation and ended at sunset.

In the meantime, during set-up, participants fasted and set-up their tipis in a circular fashion

In the centre: tree was cut and secured with ropes fastened to the top of the pole

Source: http://firstpeoplesofcanada.com/fp_groups/fp_plains5.html

The Sundance Continued… Varied dances. Some, like the Sioux,

pierced part of their breast area then tied the piercing to the rope.

By leaning away from the post while dancing, the intention was to rip the skin free, with the pain being a tribute to the spirits.

This self-induced pain could last hours. The Sun Dance festivities usually lasted

days.

The YouTube Experience The Lakota/Dakota traditional Sundance

songs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKqAI2WFdjM

Clothing

Every day wear

Sometimes inspired by dreams/visions Women prepared the hides and sewed

the clothing; the men hunted Hair on the one side of the hide was

used to keep warm Men wore: Breechcloths and full-length

leggings, ponchos over the shoulders for warmth

Accessories: belts, headgear, necklaces

Clothing designs were variable

Source: http://www.rd.com/advice/travel/montanas-museum-of-the-plains-indian/

“Montana’s Museum of the Plains Indians”

Clothing Women wore: dresses

and short tight-fitting leggings (from the ankles to just below her knees) that laced up with leather ties.

The slip: most common style of dress; it tied up around the neck and under the arms. Two sides were laced together with sinew.

Source: http://firstpeoplesofcanada.com/fp_groups/fp_plains5.html

Footwear Moccasins: made

of moose-hide Had a soft-sole Dried grass used

for extra insulation

Sewed using sinew

Source: http://firstpeoplesofcanada.com/fp_groups/fp_plains5.html

Shelter – The Tipi Tipi: cone-like structure

made of hides Specialty of the tipi:

waterproof Light came in from the

open top Bottom lined with fur for

warmth Hearth/fire built at the

backside of the tipi Wooden poles precious

(few trees in the plains)Source: http://firstpeoplesofcanada.com/fp_groups/fp_plateau2.html

The Design

Circular floor plan represented the cycle of nature: earth, sky, seasons and life itself.

The design on a tipi was given to its owners in a dream or vision, usually showing events of humans, animals, or birds, on sides of tipis.

The side design usually depicted human, bird or animal events.

The bottom skirt area symbolized the earth's surface.

The top of tipi represented symbolized father sky.

YouTube: How to make a tipi How to make a tipi:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAuTHPQm8Xg (9:00)