DENSMOKB] CHIPPEAVA MUSIC 29 



After all have been in the sweat lodge a council of the initiators is 

 called by the leader. This is held for the purpose of deciding wliat 

 part each is to take in the initiation ceremony. The person to be 

 initiated is present at this council. 



The council may be held in any of the lodges. The leader sits at 

 the left of the entrance; beside him is his miti'gwakik', and before him 

 is spread a blanket, given by the person to be initiated as a part of 

 the prescribed offering. The candidate for initiation sits at the right 

 of the leader; at the opposite side of the lodge sit the other four 

 initiators, while the oc'kabe'wis comes and goes as needed. 



When all are assembled a discussion is held as to who will bo best 

 adapted to certain parts of the ceremony. One man is selected to 

 be the first to "shoot" the candidate for initiation. This man is 

 called ne'Tnita'maHn' — a special word which can not be literally trans- 

 lated; he was said to be ''like the man who sits in the bow of the 

 boat to watch which way the boat is going." The next person to be 

 selected is the man who is to be the last to "shoot" the candidate for 

 initiation. This man is called we'dalced' , and is said to be "like the 

 steersman who sits in the stern of the boat and guides it." 



After these two have been selected the leader turns to the ne'mita'- 

 mauiV and says, ''You have been appointed by us; do as you think 

 best in the performance of your duties; we do not command you, 

 for we respect you and have confidence in your ability." He then 

 extends his hands over him and ])laces the mitf gwakik' before him. 



The ne'mita'matin' then sings as many songs as he likes, the j)erson 

 to be initiated rising and dancing before him as he sings. 



When the ne'mita'maun' has finished singing he turns to the man 

 next him and says, " Nikdn (my Mide' brother), there must be some- 

 thing in you since you were chosen to take part in this ceremony." 

 He strikes the mitf gwakik' three times, saying lio ho ho, and hands 

 it to the man next to him, who sings as he has done and, in turn, 

 passes the drum to the man who sits next to him. 



The men of lesser importance are expected to do little except sing 

 a few songs. 



This council takes a long time and after it is finished the leader has 

 no further responsibility, though he may be consulted by those to 

 whom he has delegated authority. 



Maifi'ans stated that when he was one of the initiators he sang the 

 following song, which was taught him by the old man who initiated 

 him into the Mide'wiwm. In explanation of the song he said that a 

 manido' came to teach the Mide' to the Indians, and at that time 

 sto])ped on a long point of land which projects into Lake Superior at 

 Duluth. The song refers to this incident. (See p. 22). The person 

 to be initiated would not dance during this song. 



