48 BUKEAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 45 



tors, and the oc'kabe'wis, personally thanking each for his share in 

 the ceremony. 



It is considered that after the distribution of these gifts the candi- 

 date is fully initiated. 



The next event is the showing of their mi'gis by the four men who 

 have performed the initiatory rites. The leader requests them to do 

 this. A blanket is spread on the ground east of the medicine pole, 

 and a man is appointed to stand beside the blanket and receive the 

 mi'gis. (Fig. 4 shows four mi'gis laid in the position indicated.) 



The ne'mita'mauii' leads the line of initiators. As they approach 

 the blanket each man in turn makes a rasping noise in his throat and 

 takes a mi'gis from his mouth. These shells are received by the man 

 appointed, who lays them in order on the blanket. When all the mi'gis 

 have been deposited there the ne'mita'maun' looks along the line to 

 see that all are ready. The men are watching him, and at his signal 

 they all replace the mi'gis in their mouths with a uniform motion. 



After showing the mi'gis the initiators return to the miti'gwakik' 

 and sing together. The ne'mita'maun' holds the stick and pla3^s 

 the drum first, the others shaking their rattles. Then he hands the 

 stick to another of the group, and so on until all have played the 

 drum. Four cici'gwan (rattles) are used in this portion of the cere- 

 mony, no two having exactly the same tone. (See pis. 1,2.) 



The miti'gwakik' is then removed to a position between the stone 

 and the eastern entrance (see fig. 4) ; the leader takes his place at 

 one side of it and the oc'kabe'wis at the other, the leader pounding 

 the drum and the oc'kabe'wis shaking a rattle. When they begin to 

 sing the members of the Mide'wiwin sitting on the south side of the 

 lodge spring to their feet, advance toward those on the north side, 

 and "shoot" them with their medicine bags. The latter fall insensi- 

 ble, but in a short time recover consciousness and advance toward 

 those now seated on the south side, "shooting" at them with their 

 medicine bags. These in turn fall insensible, and the ''shooting" is 

 continued until all present have been "shot" with the medicine. 

 This ceremony of initiation usually lasts until late in the afternoon. 



Meantime food is being cooked outside the lodge and when the 

 ''shooting" is finished this feast is served and anyone who lik>^s may 

 freely enter the lodge. This is the social feature of the event. Only 

 members of the Mide'wiwin are present at the initiation, but all 

 the members of the tribe may share in the feast and the dance 

 which follow. The nature of this feast is not prescribed. The dog 

 was a feature of the ceremonial feast which took place in the early 

 part of the ceremony. Food for this feast is provided by various 

 members of the tribe and a portion is usually carried home by each 

 person. According to custom, the old men are served first. 



The following song is sung when the food and tobacco are brought 

 in and placed before the leading members of the Mide'wiwin: 



