Ghost Dance Origin Myth I narrated by R. G.

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

1) A man was to learn from the spirits. He fasted and he would sleep four times. In the evening he would stand with both hands full of tobacco. Earthmaker made Waterspirits and put them in charge of the spirits, as many as there are above, all that are on the earth, they and all below the earth. Then the man cried pitifully — he made himself thirst to death; he made himself hunger to death. He cried to the spirits. After awhile, he would sleep six times. After awhile, he would sleep eight times, then ten times he would sleep, and then the various spirits that there are above, they who are on earth, the chief that were below earth, all of them blessed him. (2) The spirits that there are, everyone he went to, in a space plumbed by spans of the earth. He was thirsty, thereby he killed himself, therefore, that man became not someone unknowledgeable.

There he made a warbundle. The one in charge of ghosts had blessed him. He said to him, "I am in charge of ghosts. Human being, I bless you," he said to him, "not of anything will you fail to know. With wars I bless you, with life I bless you. I bless you with the possessions of the people. I bless you with all that is in this village. With my Dance I shall bless you for as long as your roots shall be, that long shall I bless you. Whenever you start this dance among your people, (3) those who lie ill will get well . And so I will come to place back within them the spirits of all who are frail. If my servants come, they too will put the spirits back in them. They will come." He would always remember tobacco and hot water.

The man knew of a great thing. Right away now he wanted to do it. The thing that he did was to fix the war-date. He went to war taking very many along with him, and he came back victorious and by these victories he did it so that they might know that he was a dreamer. Then he started the Ghost Dance (Wanąǧí Waší) and a life there was in it he thought, so in this way he acted. He gave a great feast. He boiled for those who are in charge of ghosts. (4) Kettles reaching far into the distance he set up for the Ghost Chief. Having offered tobacco, he said, "Grandfather, for wars, life, clothing, to put spirit back into the frail, you said that you would come, so such as these I ask for. He boiled and gave tobacco for the Wanąǧí Mónąč who roamed about visiting with them. "You also, my friends, added minds for me. You said to me what you blessed me with, and it is these things that I ask for: wars, long life that we may live, so tobacco I fill for you," he said, "then the people will have all that." Everyone thought that the Ghost Dance was sacred, so they were attentive. (5) For the dance the people made four of them dance leaders and all of them were to dance. Women, people whosoever they are, they are to obtain life, to obtain war powers. [1]

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Hočąk Text

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Commentary. "Waterspirits" — The raconteur, who is only known by his initials R. G., tells us that Earthmaker created certain Waterspirits who were apparently in charge of all spirits. These are the four Island Weights, and although they keep the earth stable, their powers are exaggerated here.

"roots" — When the spirit in charge of ghosts blesses the man, he says "I shall bless you for as long as your roots shall be." Here the word "roots" (rejú) is used as a metaphor to denote descendants.

"hot water" — The hot water that the man always remembered refers to the kettles of water set boiling for food offerings to the spirits.

"dreamer" — The reference to his being a "dreamer" refers to his ability to gain contact with the spirits through his fasting visions. Such a characterization denotes a "shaker and doer" and not an idle day-dreamer as the expression might suggest to the Western mind.

"Wanąǧí Mónąč" — Paul Radin says in a note: "Wanañǧi Mónąč = some spirits who always were in ghost shape. They could be any[where] above, on earth and below." See "Links" below.

"place the spirits back with us" — The waiką́ is not entirely forthcoming about the purpose of the return of the ghosts. The object of Wavoka, who founded the Ghost Dance, was to enlist the returning ghosts of the dead to drive out the white people and reestablish the hegemony of the Indian nations over the continent. This is what would give the people war powers, life, and property. However, this Hočąk version speaks of placing the naǧirak' back within those persons who are ill and frail. This naǧirak' is their spirit, the force associated with the soul and over which the soul has control (except as to quantity). The story further comprimises by saying not that the ghosts of the departed will return, but that spirits who take on the form of ghosts will bless them with their powers, which seems to consists more of returning the lost power of spirit.