Indians reviving their dances 1940s

Indians Now Present

Sun Dance to Tourists

1940, July 23. Lebanon Daily News 

Pocatello, Idaho - The Indians of the west are "streamlining" the Sun Dance -- ancient, tortuous and once sacred ritual of the Red men.

     Time was when the Sun Dance, as old as the American Indian himself, was a ritual which no white man could witness. Today the Sun Dance is semi-public, and the white brethren can witness it -- for a small fee.

     In fact, the Shoshone Indians on the Fort Hall reservation here are holding two special Sun Dances for the benefit of the tourist. And they've located their brush enclosures close to two highways that carry heavy tourist travel - one near Blackfoot on the main north-south route to Yellowstone National Park and the other at Bannock Creek west of Pocatello on the main cast-west route from Salt Lake City to Boise and the Pacific northeast.

     The Dance near Blackfoot started last night, simultaneous with a more private -- or more official -- ritual on the reservation near Fort Hall. The Bannock Creek dance starts tonight.

     The ritual, a plea to the great spirit for health and a bounteous harvest, also has been modified somewhat so as not to offend those Redmen who had embraced the Christian faith of the whites.

     It is a tortuous religious rite. Starting at Sundown last night, the two dozen braves participating will shuffle and hop back and forth, with only brief rests, until Tuesday morning. During the time, while squaws chant monotonously, while tom toms beat out a savage rhythm, while weird, shrill pipings come from eagle bone whistles and while curious whites buy tickets to stand and watch, the braves will abstain from both food and drink as their sacrifice to the great spirit. 

1940, March 3.  The Fresno Bee The Republican 

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Northwest Indians 

Revive War Dance

1946, Feb 22 La Grande Observer 

Lapwai, Ida - Northwest Indians robbed in their native costumes today revived the war dance they traditionally observed on Washington's birthday before World War II. From 200 to 300 Indians from various reservations attended the affair, sponsored by the Nez Perce.
     Music, which paradoxically, takes on the aspects of peace this time, will be providing by tom toms of an Indian orchestra. The Redman will vocalize with the tribal chant that has been handed down through the years. There will be no medicine man, however.

1946, Feb 22 La Grande Observer 

1940, July 23. Lebanon Daily News