486 TRIBES OF THE UPPER MISSOURI [hth. ann. 46 



Religion 



All these Indians believe in a Great Power, the First Cause of Crea- 

 tion, though they do not attempt to embody this idea, and call it by 

 name Wah-con-tun'-ga or Great Medicine. 16 The word " medicine " 

 in this case has no reference to the use of drugs, but the sense of it is 

 all that is incomprehensible, supernatural, all-powerful, etc. Every- 

 thing that can not be explained, accounted for by ordinary means, or 

 all that is above the comprehension and power of man (Indians) is 

 called Wali-con or medicine. Thus their own priests or jugglers 

 are named Wah-con. A steamboat, clock, machine, or even toys, of 

 the movements of which or the principle of motion they could not 

 account for, would likewise be termed Wah-con. Now, Wa- 

 cohda refers to something greater than is within the power of 

 man to accomplish, and its effects are manifested in the elements, 

 natural phenomena, sickness, death, great distress, or loss from ene- 

 mies, famine, lightning, and any other thing to them unaccountable 

 by any visible means. They think Wakohda pervades all air, 

 earth, and sky; that it is in fact omnipresent and omnipotent, 

 though subject to be changed and enlisted on their part in any under- 

 taking if the proper ceremonies, sacrifices, and fasts are resorted to. 

 They consider its power to be made applicable to either good or evil 

 according to their observance of these ceremonies. They admit the 

 existence of its good in years of great abundance of game, seasons 

 of general health, triumphs over enemies, etc.; and its evil or danger 

 is felt in every loss, infectious disease, or distress, the cause of which 

 they are ignorant. These are the attributes of Wakohda, and his 

 residence is supposed by some to be in the sun, but his power 

 everywhere. 



They do not acknowledge any separate existing evil spirit or 

 influence, though they have a name for this in their language, but 

 the idea has been implanted by whites in later years, and can not 

 by them be realized. All unaccountable evil is a dispensation of 

 the anger of Wakohda, which it is in their power to avoid by the 

 proper fasts, sacrifices, etc., and which they all do. 



Now this Supernatural Unknown Cause or Mystery created all 

 things in the beginning. After the earth a few men and women of 

 different colors were made, from whom descended all people. Dif- 

 ferent races were created for different pursuits. They say that to 

 the whites was allotted education, knowledge of the mechanical arts, 

 of machinery, etc., and therefore the whites in many things are 



16 Denig here defines the sense in which he uses the term " medicine " as applied to the 

 objects and things to which the native Indians apply their words, tvakoti and wakonda, 

 meaning, " spiritual, sacred, consecrated, wonderful, incomprehensible, divine ; a spirit, 

 a diviner, etc." 



