The Sun Dance of the Blackfoot Indians

An ethnographic study documents the sun dance ceremony practiced by Blackfoot groups, combining the author's direct observations with informant testimony to present ritual chronology, roles, and material practices. It outlines a preparatory period and a multi-day program—moves of camp, fasting, construction of hundred-willow sweathouses, cutting of thongs, raising a central sun pole, and erection of the dancing lodge—then describes specialized functions such as the medicine woman's responsibilities, the ceremony of the tongues, weather dancers and medicinemen, offerings, society dances, tortures, songs, and associated mythological notes, and discusses changes in performance and timing under recent influences.