DENSMORE] CHIPPEWA MUSIC 25 



fied, being translated into Chippewa and pronounced correct by 

 members of the MIde'wIwIn." 



The ceremony described is that of initiation into the first degree. 

 Initiation into the second degree differs shghtly from the first, and 

 initiation into the higher degrees is said to be different from the 

 lower degrees in many important respects; yet it is possible for per- 

 sons to be initiated into different degrees at the same ceremony. 

 It is also possible for a person to take two or even more degrees 

 at the same time, but this requires large gifts and extended instruc- 

 tion and is seldom done. 



The first duty of the novitiate is to notify the old man whom he 

 desires as leader of the ceremony. This man consults with the novi- 

 tiate and selects four others to assist in the ceremony of initiation. 

 These do not usually hold as high degrees as the leader, but they 

 are expected to give part of the instructions and are familiar with the 

 duties of their office. A man is also selected to act as herald and 

 general director of the ceremony. This officer is called oc'Jcahe'wis. 



The first duty of the oc'kabe'wis is to announce the ceremony 

 to the members of the Mlde'wlwin and invite them to attend. He 

 carries tobacco, notifies the people that the ceremony is to be held, 

 tells them to smoke the tobacco, and also mentions, in the order of 

 their importance, the persons who will take part in the ceremony. 



At the appointed time the people move their lodges and camp 

 near the place where the ceremony is to be held. 



The initiators and the friends of the. candidate have been prepar- 

 ing for the ceremony and have built the sweat lodge. This is 

 built wherever desired, and there is no prescribed direction for its 

 opening. Four poles are used in its construction, as the candidate 

 is to be initiated to the first degree. Six poles would be used if the 

 second degree were to be taken. These four poles are firmly planted 

 in the ground at points corresponding to the four corners of a square. 

 The poles diagonally opposite are then fastened together, forming 

 the framework of the roof, the binding together of the two poles 

 into one symbolizing the lengthening of life, which is accomplished 

 by means of the Mide'. Sheets of birch bark are spread over the 

 poles to form the sides and roof. 



The first ceremonial act on the part of the initiators consists in 

 entering the sweat lodge. A fire is built outside the entrance. Stones 



aAccouiits of the ceremony were given by two Chippewa bearing the same name, 1)Ut not related to each 

 other, 'i'hese were Main'ans ("little wolf"), an aged man (see pis. 3,()) who is most desirous that his native 

 beliefs shall be correctly interpreted to his white brethren, and Maifi'ans, a younger man, who retains with 

 remarkable accuracy the details of the ceremony as it was given in the old days at Mille Lac. 



Wa'wiekfim'Jg (''the round earth") (see pi. 4) and his wife Na'waji'bigo'kwe ("woman dwelling among 

 the rocks ") are meml)crsof the Mlde'wlwin in high degrees and have given valuable assistance in explaining 

 the songs and symlwls; also Jiwa'hikilo' (''resounding metal"), who holds the fourth degree, and De'- 

 Invawon'dilnk ("eating noisily "), plateS, who holds the sixth degree, in the Mlde'wlwin. Supplementary 

 Information has l)een received from all the singers of Mlde' songs. 



