War Dance
Ceremonies and Dance of the Plains Tribes
The Plains tribes engaged in various ceremonial practices, including rituals to call buffalo, the Sun Dance, and the Ghost Dance. The Sun Dance, significant for its elements of fasting, self-torture, and supplication to the sun, was widespread among tribes. The Ghost Dance emerged in the late 19th century, promoting messianic beliefs and culminating in violent confrontations, notably at Wounded Knee. Other ceremonies included Peyote worship and dancing societies, characterized by intricate rituals, music, and symbolic regalia, with a focus on spiritual connection rather than theatrical performance.
War Dance
The war dance, adopted by the Absentee Shawnee around 1888 from the Caddo, features men dancing in a circle around a drum while carrying tomahawks or scalps and wearing feathered war bonnets. Their faces are painted to reflect their supernatural partners, symbolizing strength and heritage. Women, dressed in buckskin, observe from the outside. A fallen feather prompts a senior dancer to recount a war story, emphasizing the connection to tradition and valor that defines this ceremonial dance.