The SUN DANCEThe SUN DANCE

Sun DanceSun Dance Of all the ceremonies practiced by the Lakota and Of all the ceremonies practiced by the Lakota and

most of the Plains Indians, the Sun Dance was the most of the Plains Indians, the Sun Dance was the most important.most important.

The Sun Dance was the major communal religious The Sun Dance was the major communal religious ceremony for many tribes of Plains Indians whose ceremony for many tribes of Plains Indians whose bison-hunting culture flourished during the 18th bison-hunting culture flourished during the 18th and 19th centuries.and 19th centuries.

The rite celebrates spiritual renewal of the The rite celebrates spiritual renewal of the participants and their relatives, as well as the participants and their relatives, as well as the regeneration of the living Earth with all its regeneration of the living Earth with all its components.components.

The ritual, involving sacrifice and supplication of The ritual, involving sacrifice and supplication of the tribe to insure harmony between all living the tribe to insure harmony between all living beings. beings.

Ceremonial Preparation of the Ceremonial Preparation of the Center PoleCenter Pole

A tree is selected by courageous men.A tree is selected by courageous men. It was attacked as if it were an enemy.It was attacked as if it were an enemy. One man cut it down, but the tree is not One man cut it down, but the tree is not

allowed to touch the ground.allowed to touch the ground. The tree is brought back to the arena where The tree is brought back to the arena where

it is prepared by the women.it is prepared by the women. The women strip it of its branches, decorate The women strip it of its branches, decorate

it and erect it in the center of the arena. it and erect it in the center of the arena. It becomes the first pole and the center It becomes the first pole and the center

pole.pole.

Jesuits in Native Jesuits in Native

MinistryMinistry

Meet Paul Grubb sj, scholastic that Meet Paul Grubb sj, scholastic that works with Lakota every summer works with Lakota every summer during Sun Dance.during Sun Dance.

The Sun Dance BeginsThe Sun Dance Begins After the preparation of the Center Pole, the After the preparation of the Center Pole, the

dancing would begin at sunrise of the next day.dancing would begin at sunrise of the next day.

The bodies and spirits of the dancers would be purified The bodies and spirits of the dancers would be purified by way of a ‘sweat’ before the dance.by way of a ‘sweat’ before the dance.

Each would have a mentor (holy man or experienced Each would have a mentor (holy man or experienced dancer) to help them through the ordeal. dancer) to help them through the ordeal.

The dancers were usually men who sought good hunting The dancers were usually men who sought good hunting skills, better fighting skills, or some blessing on their skills, better fighting skills, or some blessing on their family, like the curing of a sick relative. family, like the curing of a sick relative.

The dancers looked at the sun as they danced. No food The dancers looked at the sun as they danced. No food or drink was taken. or drink was taken.

The dance would go on for four to eight days. The dance would go on for four to eight days.

SymbolismSymbolism

The Tree / Center PoleThe Tree / Center PoleEagleEagleBuffaloBuffaloCircleCircleCeremonyCeremony

TreeTree

The tree represents the center of the The tree represents the center of the world, connecting the heavens to the world, connecting the heavens to the earth. earth.

Placed in the center of the circular Placed in the center of the circular arena and becomes the center of the arena and becomes the center of the circular lodge.circular lodge.

Tree has a fork in the top of it for the Tree has a fork in the top of it for the nest of the eagle.nest of the eagle.

EagleEagle The fork of the center-pole/lodge represents the eagle's The fork of the center-pole/lodge represents the eagle's

nest. nest.

MESSENGERMESSENGER: During the Sun Dance the eagle is the : During the Sun Dance the eagle is the facilitator of communication between man and spirit. facilitator of communication between man and spirit.

The eagle is one of the Plains Indians' most sacred animal. The eagle is one of the Plains Indians' most sacred animal. It flies high, being the closest creature to the Sun. It flies high, being the closest creature to the Sun. Therefore it is the link between man and spirit and is the Therefore it is the link between man and spirit and is the messenger that delivers prayers to the Wakan-Tanka (god). messenger that delivers prayers to the Wakan-Tanka (god).

In addition to being a messenger, the eagle also represents In addition to being a messenger, the eagle also represents many human traits. We can see what values and traits many human traits. We can see what values and traits these cultures value in a person by those traits assigned to these cultures value in a person by those traits assigned to such a sacred animal. The eagle is seen as courageous, such a sacred animal. The eagle is seen as courageous, swift, and strong. He has great foresight and knows swift, and strong. He has great foresight and knows everything. everything.

BuffaloBuffalo

Main theme of Sun DanceMain theme of Sun DanceThe buffalo that symbolized life. The buffalo that symbolized life. Plains Indians relied on buffalo for Plains Indians relied on buffalo for

their food, clothing, shelter.their food, clothing, shelter. These peoples' lives were These peoples' lives were

intertwined with the buffalo's. intertwined with the buffalo's. This relationship was praised and This relationship was praised and

blessed with the Sun Dance. blessed with the Sun Dance.

Symbolism of the CeremonySymbolism of the Ceremony The Sun Dance symbolizes a reconciliation The Sun Dance symbolizes a reconciliation

ceremony by Natives to the Buffalo. ceremony by Natives to the Buffalo. Tension, for the native people, resided in being a Tension, for the native people, resided in being a

people that view the buffalo as wise and powerful people that view the buffalo as wise and powerful and even closer to the Creator than humans, and and even closer to the Creator than humans, and having to kill and eat them to survive. having to kill and eat them to survive.

Making the buffalo sacred, symbolically giving Making the buffalo sacred, symbolically giving new life to it and treating it with respect and new life to it and treating it with respect and reverence, acts as a reconciliation. Without the reverence, acts as a reconciliation. Without the buffalo there would be death for the Plains buffalo there would be death for the Plains Indians. They saw that the buffalo not only Indians. They saw that the buffalo not only provided them with physical well-being, but kept provided them with physical well-being, but kept their souls alive, too. their souls alive, too.