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BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



[Bull. 194 



Black Shield 

 Wife 



Singer 



Spring Boy 

 Lodge Boy 



Sweat Lodge 



aughter-ln-law 

 First Creator 



Figure 5. — Diagram of Bear ceremonial lodge. (Drawn by Bears Arm.) 



Medicine root to the snare. This root represented Two Men and was used in the 

 ceremony to ward off bad luck. It was also believed that the snare would capture 

 any evil spirits that came to the ceremony. 



When the snare and Black Medicine were tied to the robe, the Buffalo Song was 

 sung four times. Each time the song was completed, First Creator impersonator 

 added wood to the fire in the center of the lodge where the stones for the sweat 

 lodge were heating. 



According to the mythology, when this ceremony was first being given by 

 Brave- While- Young, First Creator went to the buffaloes and told them that they 

 should be represented in the ceremony. They selected their oldest bull to attend. 

 As he approached the village where the Bear ceremony was to be held, he sang 

 the Buffalo song, which became a part of the Bear ceremony, and constantly 

 hooked his head from side to side. He appeared angry as he came into the village. 

 First Creator saw him coming and told Buffalo that he would have to sit by him- 

 self. This accounts for the buffalo skull being placed apart from the other 

 ceremonial paraphernalia. 



