182 BULLETIN, PUBLIC MUSEUM, MILWAUKEE [Vol. 19 



2. PREOCCUPATION WITH HEALTH IN 

 CEREMONIAL LIFE 



The most glaring manifestation of the Chippewa's interest in health is 

 shown in their religious ceremonies. Two of the three ceremonies function- 

 ing at the present time have curing as almost the sole purpose, and to the 

 third, the Drum Dance which is an importation from the Dakota Sioux, the 

 Chippewa have added a special curing ceremony. 



THE MIDE.WIWIN 



The Midewiwin, or Medicine Dance, is the most important religious 

 ceremony of the Chippewa. It is too complex in both meaning and ritual 

 to adequately describe in this paper, but the important elements as encoun- 

 tered today will be summarized. The Midewiwin is the important ceremony 

 of the Medicine Lodge Society to which membership is obtained by prelimin- 

 ary instruction and formal initiation at one of the semi-annual meetings held 

 in late spring and early fall. The instruction and ceremony is under the 

 leadership of a number of recognized priests each of whom has an assistant 

 or runner. The ceremony now lasts from two to five days depending upon 

 the number of candidates, and is held in a specially constructed, semi- 

 cylindrical lodge consisting of a pole framevv'Ork open except for cedar boughs 

 placed along the sides up to a height of two or three feet (Figs. 1 and 2). 



A person who is sick or dreams he should "go through" the Midewiwin 

 signifies his intention by holding a feast to which friends and a Mide priest 

 are invited. If the priest tells him to go through, he must make the follow- 

 ing preparations: He begins buying the blankets and pails needed for the 

 initiation payment. The payment for each of the degrees varies as follows: 



First degree 

 Second degree 

 Third degree 

 Fourth degree 



Clothing is sometimes substituted for blankets. The candidate is given a 

 cowrie shell (mi'g/'s) on a thong which must be worn around the neck at all 

 times until his initiation. He must also give a series of feasts during this 

 period to which his sponsors and the priest are invited. 



