(1) pêyak, nipâkwêsimôwin. ê-nitotamâht manitôw, kahkiyaw ayîsiyiniw kita-ohpikit ôta askîhk. êwako nipâkwêsimôwin, nîso-kîsikâw piko aniki kâ-nîmihitocik nipiy êkâ ê-minihkwêcik, êkwa mîciwin êkâ ê-mîcicik nîso-kîsikâw. mayaw kâ-pôyohk, sêmâk kahkiyaw kîwâniwiw, ê-nitawi-atoskêhk. namôya wîhkâc ê-kisiwâsihk, êwako mîkiwâhp kâ-âpacihtâcik nêhiyawak. êwako kahkiyaw.¹

(1) One is the Sun-Dance. The Sun-Dance consists of this, that God is entreated that every human being may grow up and thrive here on this earth. The Sun-Dance consists of this, that for two days and no longer the dancers drink no water and for two days eat no food. As soon as it is over, at once all go home and return to work. It is never in anger that the Cree use this lodge. That is all.

(2) pîsim piyêsiw mostos ohtin, êwakonik nêwo kâ-ôh-nipâkwêsimohk, ê-miyâcik ayîsiyiniwa êwakonik. manitôw otawâsimisa ê-kî-wihât kita-nitotamâht pimâtisiwin, êwakonik âcimostawêwak ôhtâwiyiwâwa manitôwa. êkosi êwako ohci kâ-nipâkwêsimohk; namôya ê-mâyâtahk. mistahi mihcêtwâw ohci pimâtisiwak nêhiyawak. ayis namôya êwakoni piko ê-nitotamawâcik kita-ôh-pimâtisicik; kahkiyaw kita-ohpikit ayîsiyiniw ôta ôma askiy ê-isi-nitotahkik kâ-nipâkwêsimôwinihkêcik. ê-âhkosit awiyak, asotam ta-wîcihiwêt, ta-nîmihitot, manitôwa ê-nitotamawât. tâpwê âskaw pimâtisiwak êkota ohci nêhiyawak. pîhtwâhêwak êwakoni ôhi kahkiyaw, ôhi pîsimwa mîna piyêsiwa mîna mostoswa mîna ohtina. êwakoni mîna wâpahtêhêwak cistêmâwa.

(2) Sun, Thunderbird, Buffalo, Wind, for these four the Sun-Dance is danced, since they gave it to man. Since God appointed these his children, that he might be entreated for life, it is they who convey the message to God their Father. This, then, is the purpose of the Sun-Dance; not evil. In many instances Cree owe their lives to it. But, in fact, it is not only for themselves that they ask for the power to live; that every human being on this earth may thrive is the prayer of them who celebrate the Sun-Dance. When one is ill, he makes a vow that he will take part in the dance and the prayer to God. Truly, often have Cree owed their lives to this. They cause each of them to smoke, the Sun and the Thunderbird and the Buffalo and the Wind. They show them the tobacco.

(3) awa kâ-wî-nipâkwêsimôwinihkêt, "kitâpahta ôma!" "kitâpam awa, nôhtâ kisê-manitôw, kitawâsimis ê-wî-kanawêyihtamawak kita-pîhtwât!" "miy sôhkisiwin awa kitawâsimis kâ-kanawêyihtamawak cistêmâwa." "kanâci, êkâ kêkway ta-sêkihikocik ayîsiyiniwak." "ita mânokêyâni, kitawâsimisak kâ-wî-mânokawakik, kita-kitâpahtahkik wîkiwâw ta-okimâwihk êkâ awiyak kita-âhkosit;"²

"kahkiyaw kiyâm kita-miywêyihtamwak ôki kitawâsimisak, tahto kê-pê-nitawâpahkêcik ôma pîsim piyêsiw wîki kâ-wî-osîhtâyân, ohtin mîna." "êyakonik kita-kisêwâtisiwak koyahâkanak, kâ-sôhkahk kipimâcihiwêwin, êwako kita-miyihcik kahkiyaw ayîsiyiniwak." "ôma nîpawiyâni nama kêkway kita-sêkihikwak." "wâh-pimohtêci kitawâsimis, pêyâhtik kita-pimohtêw awa piyêsiw, nipiy kita-sâpopatât ohci ôma askiy, êkâ ta-pîkopayik." "kisêwâtotawin; kitimâkihtawin!" "êkosi ê-itwêyân anohc, kahkiyaw ta-miywamahcihohk."

(3) He who is about to give the Sun-Dance, “Look upon this thing! Look upon this tobacco, God, my Father, which I shall keep for Thy child to smoke. Give power to Thy child for whom I keep the tobacco. Moderate him, so that mortal men be not frightened by aught. There where I set up the lodge which I am about to erect for Thy children to look upon, let no one be ill; let all Thy children rejoice in it, as many as shall come to look upon this lodge of Sun and Thunderbird which I shall build, and of the Wind. May these Thy appointed creatures be propitious, so that Thy firm gift of life may be given to all men. When here I stand let them not by aught be frightened. When Thy child is about to walk abroad, let this Thunderbird go gently, drenching this earth with rain, that it may not break apart. Be kind to me; hear me with pity! Thus do I now speak, that all may live in health.”

(4) êwako kahkiyaw.

(4) That is all of this.

(5) kîspin piyêsiw ê-miyât êwako mîkiwâhp, kâ-mânokêt ayîsiyiniw, mistahi âpacihiwêw.³

kahkiyaw awiya âpacihêw, êkâ ta-nôhtêyâpâkwêyit, ta-miyoskâkoyit nipiy. êwako ohci ayîsiyiniwak, pêyak kâ-nipâkwêsimôwinihkêt.

(5) If the Thunderbird gives a man this lodge, and he has set it up, he does much good to people. He does good to each and every one, that they need not thirst and that water may benefit them. This is why; for the sake of mankind is why one gives a Sundance.

(6) kahkiyaw êkosi.

(6) That, then, is all.

(7) êkwa kotak êwako. pêyakwan pîhtwâwin, pêyak tipiskâw piko ê-nikamohk, sîsîkwanak ê-âpacihihcik. pêyak wâkayôs êwako nîkân ê-wîhtamâkêt, nêhiyawa ê-wîhtamawât. êkota ohci: pîsim piyêsiw mostos. piko itôwahk asiniy apiw pîhcâyihk. êyakonik ê-miyihcik cistêmâwa, kita-pîhtwâcik, ê-nitotamâhcik pimâtisiwin. tâpitawi pîhcâyihk pîhtwâwikamikohk mîcisonâniwiw, minihkwâniwiw nipiy. nôtokêsiwak mânokêwak pîhtwâwikamik, namôya nâpêwak. namôya nîmihitôwak. tahto ê-nikamocik, kiyîsi-nikamotwâwi, nitotamawêwak kita-ohci-pimâtisicik. tahto kâ-nikamocik, kahkiyaw êwakonik ê-nitotamâcik. âskaw pîhcâyihk mâtôw ayîsiyiniw kâ-pîhtwâwinihkêt.

(7) Now another. Of similar nature is the Smoking-Lodge, in which the singing lasts only one night and rattles are used. It was a certain bear who first told of this, revealing it to the Cree. It is for these: Sun, Thunderbird, Buffalo. Somewhere within the lodge lies a stone. It is they who are given tobacco that they may smoke and are entreated for life. But also, within the Smoking-Lodge there is eating, and water is drunk. Old women erect the Smoking-Lodge, not men. They do not dance. Every time they sing, when they have sung their song, they ask them for the gift of life. As many as sing, all ask them for it. From time to time within the lodge he weeps who is giving the Smoking-Ceremony.

(8) "ôki awâsisak kita-ohpikiwak miyinân, kita-ôh-ohpikinâwasoyâhk!" itwêwak kâ-pîhtwâcik.

(8) “Grant us that these children may grow up, grant us the gift of bringing our children to maturity!” say those who smoke.

(9) tahto mîna kâ-nikamocik, kahkiyaw miyâwak cistêmâwa, tahto kâ-nikamocik. âskaw iskwêwak mâtôwak.

(9) As many, also, as sing, all are given tobacco, as many as sing. From time to time the women weep.

(10) "kitimâkihtawinân!" "kitimâkêyim ôki nâpêwak, ê-kitimâkisicik, ê-nitotamâkoyêkok pimâtisiwin." "ôki mîna iskwêwak ta-ohpikihêwak otawâsimisiwâwa kitimâkêyiminân, kisê-manitôw!" "ôki kitawâsimisak kâ-wîci-pîhtwâmihcik miy kita-ôh-kitimâkêyihtahkik kêkway, ta-ohpikîmakaniyik wiyawâw." "êkâ wiya nika-kakwê-sêkihikonân kitawâsimis piyêsiw." "mîna ohtin êkâ wiya ita ê-ayât ayîsiyiniw kakwê-sêkihtâ miywâsin kohpikicikêwin." "êkosi isi kitimâkêyiminân!"

(10) “Lend a pitying ear to our prayer! Pity these men, who are pitiable, who implore you for life. And that these women, also, may bring their children to maturity, take pity on us, Lord God! To those children who are given part in the smoking, grant, that they may feel pity for all things, and that their bodies may grow and thrive. Let not Thy child, the Thunderbird try to frighten us. Do not with Wind, there where is mortal man, seek to frighten that good thing Thou hast caused to grow up. Even thus grant us Thy pity!”

(11) êkosi kahkiyaw.

(11) That is all.

(12) ê-pôni-mâtocik ôki iskwêwak, pêyak ê-mâtot, "hay!" itâw, "kitatamihin ê-nitotamâkêstamawiyan pimâtisiwin!"

(12) When the women cease to weep, when one has wept, “Thanks!” they say to her; “I thank you for praying for me for life!”

(13) ê-itêyimâcik, ê-mâtoyit, pêskis ê-pîkiskwêyit, "mâskôc ta-kitimâkihtawâw," ê-itêyihtahkik ôki ayisiyiniwak, "hay!" kâ-ôh-itwêcik.

(13) Because those people think thus concerning her, when she weeps and at the same time speaks her prayer, because they think “Doubtless she will be heard with pity,” that is why they say, “Thanks!”

(14) êkosi êwako pêyak tipiskâw ê-pôyohk, mayaw ê-kîsikâk, sêmâk kahkiyaw kîwêwak ayîsiyiniwak. mistahi kîwêhtatâwak mîciwin. mistahi kîsitêpôw êwako aniki ê-pîhtwât awiyak, pêyak piko omîciwin kâ-miyât, kahkiyaw ayîsiyiniwa ta-mîciyit. mayaw ê-pôyohk, kîwâniwiw nanânis.

(14) Then, when after that one night the ceremony is closed, as soon as day comes, at once all the people go home. They take home much food. When anyone of these people thus smokes, he cooks much, for he alone gives them food, that all the people may eat. As soon as the ceremony is over, all go to their various homes.

(15) êwako kahkiyaw.

(15) That is all of this.

(16) kotak mîna nîmihitôwin: kikastotinêwak. êkwa mistikohk tâpisiniyiwa mostoswak waskasîwâhk ohci ê-apisîsisicik.⁴

êyakonik pêyak kîsikâw ê-kîsikâyik piko ê-nîmihitocik. kahkiyaw mâka kikastotinêwak. namôya nôkwaniyiwa ohkwâkaniwâw; payipisikâtêyiwa otastotiniwâwa ita ê-ohci-kanawâpahkêcik.

(16) Another dance still: they dance the Masked-Dance. To a pole are fastened the smallest of the hoofs of buffalo. These dancers dance one day, only during daylight. All wear a headgear. Their faces are not visible; holes are cut in their headgear, through which they may see.

(17) êwako mîna pêyakwan, wîhtikôhkânisimôwin. êwako pêyakwan: tahki mîcisôwak; pisisik nâpêwak, namôya iskwêwak. pêyakwan mîna êwako pâh-pêyak piko kâ-miyihcik ayîsiyiniwak, êwako nîmihitôwin, namôya waniyaw, pêyak piko nâpêw. âskaw nisto-mitanaw nîsitanaw nêwomitanaw ihtasiwak ôki kâ-wîhtikôh-kânisimocik. êyakonik ê-asotahkik kita-ohci-pimâtisicik, wâhyaw ê-ayâyit owâhkômâkaniwâwa.

(17) This, too, is of the same nature, the Windigo-Dance. This is alike in both: they always eat; there are only men, not women. This, too, is a common feature, that only certain individuals are given the gift of holding this dance; not anybody, but only this or that man. Sometimes the Windigo-Dancers were as many as thirty, twenty, or forty in number. They promised to hold it that they might derive life from it, when their kinsfolk were far away.

(18) "wâpahtihin niwâhkômâkanak, manitôw, kitawâsimisak." "êkospî nika-nîmihâwak." "wâpamaki awa kâ-matwê-âhkosit, kita-pimâtisiw." "êwako mîkiwâhp nika-apîstên." "nika-nîmihâwak ayîsiyiniwak," itwêw.

(18) “God, let me see my kinsfolk, Thy children. Then I shall give them a dance. If I look upon him who laments in sickness, let him live. By this lodge I shall take my seat. I shall make the people dance,” he said.

(19) tâpwê pimâtisiyiwa.

(19) Then truly the others would live.

(20) êkoyikohk ê-iskwâk êwako.

(20) That is the end of this.

(21) kayâs tâpiskôc simâkanisak nêhiyawak. namôya kîmôc kî-tôtamwak. mayaw onîmihitôwak, êyakonik pisisik nâpêwak kayâs, kîspin onîmihitôwak, "namôya ka-mâcînâwâw; namôya ka-mâcîw awiyak," kîspin êkosi ê-itwêcik, awiyak miyâcîci, mênahoci, ôki onîmihitôwak, âta, "kîmôc nitôtên," êtêyihtahki awa kâ-mâcît, têpiskâyiki, têkosihki, wiyâpahki pêhtamwak onîmihitôwak. kîkisêpâ wayawîwak; sâkowêwak; nikamôwak. êkosi pîkonêwak. awa kâ-kî-mâcît wîki yâyikisamwân, misiwê ê-pîkosamoht. opâskisikan otinamwân.

(21) Of old, like soldiers were the Cree. They did not act without general consent. As soon as these dancers, - they were only men, of old, - as soon as these dancers said, “You are not to hunt; no one is to hunt,” then, if anyone hunted and killed game, then these dancers, even though that hunter would think, “I am doing it in secret,” when at night he has arrived, in the morning those dancers would hear it. Early in the morning they would go forth; they would whoop; they sang. Then they tore up his belongings. The tent of the one who had hunted would be cut into strips, and all his property cut up. His gun would be taken from him.

(22) "ayis, nikwêmêsitik, nôhtêhkatêwak nitawâsimisak, kâ-ôh-mâyi-tôtâtakok." "awa pîhtwâhkêk ciscêmâs." "iyikohk kî-nêwo-tipiskâk, êkospî kika-miyitinâwâw isi-miywêyihtamêk," itwêw awa nâpêw.

(22) “You see, friends, my children are hungry; that is why I have transgressed against you. Do you keep this tobacco to smoke. In four nights I shall give you that which will please you,” said that man.

(23) kâ-nêwo-tipiskâki pakamahwêw atimwa, ê-nipahât otêma. pakâsimêw, onîmihitôwak ê-nitawi-asamihcik.

(23) When the fourth night had come, he clubbed his dog to death; he killed his dog. He set it to boil, and the dancers were sent for, that they might partake of it.

(24) kâ-kîsi-asamihtwâwi ôki onîmihitôwak, êkwa, "hâw, awa kâ-kî-pîkoswâyahk, nikwêmêsitik, namôya kikisiwâhânaw." "miyihk apasoya, mîkiwâhp; mîna ayiwinisa miyihk."

(24) When the dancers had been given it to eat, then, “Now, he whose belongings we have cut to pieces, friends, we have not angered him. Give him tent-poles and a tipi; give him also clothes.”

(25) hâ, êkwa kahkiyaw onîmihitôwak miyêwak ta-âpacihtâyit, pâskisikan môsasiniya mîkiwâhp apasoya. êkosi isi miyâw, kîspin êkâya kisiwâsit. mâka awa kâ-kisiwâhiht, wîki ê-pîkosamoht, nama kêkway miyâw. tâpwê piko kitimâkisiw, kahkiyaw ê-pîkonamoht otayâna otayiwinisa opâskisikan.

(25) Then all the dancers would give him things to use, a gun, bullets, a tipi, lodge-poles. With such things he was presented, if he did not get angry. But one who was made angry by the destruction of his dwelling, was not given anything. He was indeed reduced to misery, what with the tearing up of all his implements, his clothes, and his gun.

(26) êwako kahkiyaw.

(26) That is all.

(27) êkwa pêyak; ocihkomisîsak isiyîhkâsôwak onîmihitôwak. kâkikê wîkiwâw cimatêyiw pîhtêyas, mîkiwâhp, êyakonik onîmihitôwak.

(27) And another; Little Lousy Fellows the dancers were called. Their lodge stood permanently in the center of the camp, the lodge of these dancers.

(28) ôki mîna kotakak sîsîkwanisak isiyîhkâsôwak onîmihitôwak. ê-kîsikâyik nîmihitôwak. pisisik nâpêwak. iskwêwak naskwahamâkêwak, ê-nikamocik.

(28) And another society of dancers was called the Little Rattles. They danced by daylight. They were all men. The women made the chorus as they sang.

(29) êkwa kotakak, mistahi-atimwak. pisisik nâpêwak. pêyakwan êkosi isi nîmihitôwak, iskwêwa ê-nikamoyit; namôya ê-nîmihitoyit. nâpêwak pisisik.

(29) And another society, the Big Dogs. They were men only. They danced in the same way, the women singing, but not dancing. They were all men.

(30) kotakak mîna onîmihitôwak pihêwak isiyîhkâsôwak. pêyakwan êkosi ê-tôtahkik. kîspin awiyak mostoswa ê-nipahât, pîkonâw.

(30) Another society of dancers was called the Partridges. They did like the preceding. If anyone killed a buffalo, his possessions were torn up.

(31) ôki kahkiyaw kâ-wîhakik onîmihitôwak pîhtêyas ê-wîkicik, ê-wîhkwêstêki mîkiwâhpa. êwako kahkiyaw pêyakwan êwako wiyasiwêwin, nama awiya kita-mâcît, asêyas piko kahkiyaw ayîsiyiniw ta-mâcît; êwako ê-oyasowâtahkik onîmihitowak, kîkisêpâ pêyak wîhtam, ê-papâ-têpwêt: "êkosi itwêwak onîmihitôwak," ê-itwêt awa ayîsiyiniw, ê-wîhtamawât kahkiyaw awiya.

(31) All these dancers whom I have named, had their lodge in the center, where the other tipis stood in a circle round about. They all had the same rule, that no one was to hunt, except when all hunted in a band; that was the law of the dancers. Early in the morning one would announce it, going about and crying, “So and so say the dancers,” announcing it to every one.

(32) êwako êkoyikohk isko. êkosi.

(32) That is all.

(33) anohc pîtos nîmihitôwin, ê-mîcisohk, kahkiyaw, awâsisak, iskwêwak, kahkiyaw ê-itohtatahk mîciwin, ayâpisîs pêyak askihkohk piko. piyis mistahi pîhcâyihk astêw mîciwin. namôya pêyak tipiskâw; nôhtaw ê-âpihtâwi-tipiskâk poyonâniwa.⁵

(33) Today the dancing is different; there is eating. Everyone, children and women, bring food, each one a small amount, in a kettle. In the end there is a good amount of food in the tent. Not one night; they stop before midnight.

Footnotes

¹LB: The insistence upon prompt return to work and upon absence of black magic (“it is never in anger”) are, of course, pleas for the dances, some of which have been forbidden by the government. The informant spoke much more freely when notes were not being taken; when dictating he broke off at frequent intervals with, “That is all.” Then, when reminded of some feature he had left out, he would go on for a while. This accounts for the form of our text.

²LB on taw-okimâwahk: Doubtless error of record.

³LB: Informant had explained that not anyone, but only he who had been so commanded in a vision by a Thunderer, could give a Sun-Dance.

⁴LB: Or, “small things (animate: rattles?) made of buffalo-hoofs.”

⁵LB: This last is no doubt the “pow-wow”, Cree pîcicîwak, literally, “they attract”. An old time dance described by Coming-Day but not mentioned in our text, was the Pole-Dance, awatâhtikwêwak, literally, “they carry sticks”. Sticks were set up upright in the ground, four ropes attached to each, and each rope held by a dancer. The dancers were on horseback, two young men and two young women riding around each stick. Another feature not in this text is the form of the lodge: the Smoking-Lodge is conical, shaped like an ordinary tipi; the Sun-Dance lodge is straight upright (in a circle) and has a conical top.