• THE BLACKFOOT SUN DANCE
  The Sun Dance lodge was built by erecting a central pole hung with offerings to the Great Spirit. This was surrounded with a circle of 10 more poles. Leafy branches covered the top. The dancers consisted of a few men who fasted and have prayed. Sharp skewers (thin sticks) pierce the skin of the dancers' back and chest. Ropes were tied from the skewers to the center pole. They danced in the sacred circle around the center pole . The dancers try to break away from the center pole to end the dance.
  
  
• ANOTHER VERSION OF THE SUN DANCE
  The camp was set up in a circle of teepees. A tree was cut and set up in the center of the space to be used for the dance. Colored cloth offerings were fastened to the top of the pole to represent the prayers of the people. People danced around in a circle to the beating of drums, gazed up at the sun and blew bone whistles. Men tied ropes to sticks which were stuck through the skin of their chests or backs. As they danced, they kept pulling back until the sticks tore through their skin. It was considered a great honor to be a part of this dance.

BACK