188 



BULLETIN, PUBLIC MUSEUM, MILWAUKEE 



[Vol. 19 



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FIG. 4— Drum Dance Ruil 



memorize a great many songs, for each person has his own song. When it is 

 sung, according to a definite order, that person must get up and dance; then 

 others may join in. When the song is finished the person must contribute 

 some article such as a blanket, clothing, or a gun to some member of his 

 choice. A bundle of gifts is also given to an invited representative of 

 another band for distribution to his people. The presentation of gifts is the 

 important feature of the Drum Dance. 



Health is not an important theme of this ceremony. The speakers 

 usually include a prayer for good health sometime during the dance. Also, 

 the Chippewa, in taking over the dance from the Sioux, did add a curing 

 ritual in which the sick person was brought into the dance ring and special 

 curing songs sung in his behalf, but this is rarely done at present, and it 

 seems not to have been an important feature of the dance even in former 

 times. The Drum Dance, in fact, once a sort of social clearing house for 

 such events as marriage, divorce, removal of mourning, et al., has now 

 become essentially a social dance in which singing, dancing, and visiting are 

 the main attractions. 



