88 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY lun.L. 6i 



(1) Itui)'kasai)-lu'ta (Red Weasel), a member of the Teton 

 division of the tribe. Concerning the vSun dance Red Weasel is con- 

 sidered the highest authority among the Teton Sioux. He acted as 

 Intercessor four times, the last occasion being the Sun dance of 1881, 

 the final ceremony held by the Teton in Dakota. He also took part 

 in the dance four times, once by being suspended from the pole and 

 three times by receiving cuts on his arms. In earlier years he was 

 trained for the office of Intercessor {Kuwa' Kiya'pi) ^ by Wi-ihai)'bla 

 (Dreamer-of-the-Sun), who died about the middle of the last century. 

 Before giving his information concerning the Sun dance Red Weasel 

 said: 



I am not boasting; I am telling you what I myself know and I must speak for myself 

 as there is no man living who can vouch for me. What I tell you is what I learned 

 from Dreamer-of-the-Sun, who taught me as he was taught. Beyond that I can not 

 tell you the history of the Sun dance. Dreamer-of-the-Sun was my uncle. He had 

 many relatives, but he selected me as one who was peculiarly fitted to succeed him 

 if I Lived to grow up. He thus decided to instruct me and began my training at an 

 early age. One of the first and most important things I was taught was that I must 

 have the greatest reverence for Wakag^tagka. Dreamer-of-the-Sun told me that if I 

 would obey his instructions I would be a help to the Sioux nation, and that, if 

 properly prepared for the duties of the highest office in the Sim dance, I need have 

 no anxiety when filling the office as the proper thing to do would come to my mind 

 at the time. In regard to the songs, Dreamer-of-the-Sun told me that I may pray with 

 my mouth and the prayer will be heard, but if I sing the prayer it will be heard sooner 

 by Wakag^tagka. All the prayers which I offered in the Sun dance and which are 

 still in my mind axe prayers which were taught me by Dreamer-of-the-Sun. 



When Red Weasel gave his information concerning the Sun dance 

 he was about 80 years old and bowed with the weight of his years. He 

 traveled 43 miles by wagon in order to confer with the writer. The 

 sun shone in a cloudless sky while he was at the agency, and his 

 presence was so highly esteemed by the old people that many said, 

 ''We have fine weather because Red Weasel is with us." 



(2) Mato'-kuwa'pi (CHASED-BY-BEARs),aSantee-Yanktonai(pl.l3) 

 took part in the Sun dance twice as Leader of the Dancers and was 

 present at the final Sun dance of the Teton. His first participation 

 in the dance was in 1867, when at the age of 24 years he had "spoken 

 the vow" of a war party. (See p. 97.) On that occasion as well as 

 at other Sun dances he cut the arms of the men, suspended them to 

 the pole or fastened the buffalo skulls to their flesh, according to the 

 nature of their vows. He said that he once saw a vision. He was 

 dancing in the Sun dance, and as he looked steadily at the sun he saw 



1 One of the most important of the Intercessor's duties was considered to be the offering of prayers as 

 representative of the people, and for this reason the term "Intercessor" was adopted by Mr. Iligheagle 

 to designate this office. A majority of English words expressing religious ideas are associated \\ ith the 

 teachings of Christianity. In many instances, therefore, the native idea must be gained largely from the 

 connection in which a word is used. 



