EAWNl DEUGIOTJS SOCIETIES BASED ON BLESSINGS 347 



Description ofhuffalo dance and its origin. — Informant, member of 

 Bear clan: The buffalo dance can be given by anybody who has been 

 blessed by the buffalo spirits. In the beginning the Winnebago had 

 animal forms, and they could obtain all the power they wanted, but 

 since they left that stage of life they can obtain power only by fasting, 

 John's buffalo feast is of recent origin. It originated with his 

 grandfather. 



A long lodge is prepared and in the center there is a pile of loose 

 dirt. John's grandfather's name was Hodjanaga, Young-man-just- 

 maturing. In fasting he found out that he was blessed with powers 

 to cure the sick and be victorious in battle. While fasting, the 

 spirits told him that he would receive what he was longing for. 

 They told him that he would know what to do, for they would come 

 after him. Soon they came after him and took him into camp (i. e., 

 spirit country). When he got there, he saw an old man and a child, 

 and he was told that it was on accoimt of the child that he had been 

 brought there; that the child had heard his prayers while fasting 

 and had blessed him. Then they showed him a certain herb and 

 told him, "This is what we give you. It will give you strength in 

 rimning. Use it in time of war, and use it also as medicine for life. 

 I have blessed you and given you what you desired and do you, in. 

 turn, make me a dog feast and give me red feathers, tobacco, and 

 food." Then they taught him the songs and gave him a buffalo tail 

 and a flute. 



No invitation sticks are used. They go around and invite those 

 whom they want. 



When the grasses are well developed, then the Buffalo clan people 

 make a feast to their life or clan ; also in midwinter, for that is the 

 time when all the spirits awaken from their night's sleep and turn 

 over on the other side. 



Society of Those Who Have Been Blessed By the Grizzly Bear 



Informant, member of Bear clan: The grizzly-bear dance was 

 given by those who had been blessed during their fasting by the 

 grizzly bear. Women were never so blessed, and for that reason 

 they never could participate in the dance. Different people received 

 different blessings. We were blessed with two grizzly-bear heads, 

 grizzly-bear hides, and paws. In the lodge constructed for the dance 

 was placed a moimd of earth called ma''warap'uru. The ma"warap'uru 

 is supposed to represent a bear's cave, the four points of the cross 

 representing the entrances to the cave and the four lines running to 

 the center, the paths along which the grizzly bear travels when he 

 scents a man. The place in the middle is supposed to be the habi- 

 tation of the bear himself. Tobacco and red feathers are placed both 



