1902 - Banned dances are solely for white amusements -- "in the great struggle for supremacy between civilizations and savagery."

You need to remember that in 1902 there was a ban on tribal dances, and the younger, indigenous generation wearing their cultural attire, or keeping their hair long. It was all banned by the Indian Commissioner as a means to forcing their assimilation into the dominate, white society. Go back to the previous posts and read it for yourself.

1902, July 29  Star Tribune 

At this time, what wasn't banned was using Native people as a form of entertainment for white people. This had been going on for centuries - that and white people imitating the dances for their own entertainment. Heck, many of our "founding fathers" did that within the Tammany Society and fraternities such as the Order of the Red Men. They build their entire groups around using Native ceremonies, terms, and traditions as a form of frolic and fun.

1902, Sept 21  The Los Angeles Times.
Spectators at a show with "Indian performers" 

So when Commissioner Jones banned the dances from reservations, what he was saying is that the INDIANS couldn't hold these dances for THE INDIANS, and for their religious reasons... that was uncivilized and barbaric. But if they were lured, bribed and forced (and yes, they were often forced - remember at this time, they were wards of the government, prisoners of the American war against them, and at the mercy of the government and its agents) they were often the highlight of a festival, fair, wild west show or exhibition.

1902, March 11  The Salt Lake Tribune 

The below announcement from March 11, 1902, under the heading AMUSEMENTS states: "People at the Grand last night were given enough of everything. 'The Denver Express' lasts from 8 till near midnight, and gives Indian massacres, train wrecking, society murders and a while piles of miscellaneous villainy."  

People apparently loved a good Indian massacre - reproduction - back then. It was a common form of entertainment, and real, live Indians were used in the reenactments.

I pulled the quote below from a June 29th, 1902 piece that says: "THE GREAT BUFFALO AND WILD WEST SHOWS UNITED - The Indians traveling with the Wild West show are from all the different tribes of the northwest, including many noted chiefs, braves and warriors who took active part in the great struggle for supremacy between civilizations and savagery. 

          These Indians will be seen in realistic deeds of cunning and daring, together with tribal dances and weird ceremonies, togged out in fancy costumes and vivid colors.
          Besides the Indians the Great Wild West show ill exhibit the only herd of real buffalo now in existence.
          The program is nearly three house long, replete with thrilling situations, incident to pioneer life in the far west."

So here the audience can see exactly what is being banned: dances, Indian "costumes" (meaning their normal clothing), and mock battles for supremacy between civilizations (the white people) and savagery (the original indigenous people.) 

Side note: Look at all that subliminal messaging using words and phrases -- repeating the manifest destiny philosophy of good vs bad, conquest, and the definition of civility... all while being entertained. In 1902, non-Native culture dominated the poor, pretty Indians, whom they claimed affection for, all the while celebrating their demise. 

I've said this before - they were celebrating the ENDian. The end of the indigenous people. And they were entertained by their cultural cannibalism. It's sickening if you think about it in that way. 

To illustrate my point even further: 

CROWDS AT CODY'S SHOW

Wild West Exhibition Proves Popular as Ever

Two immense Audiences cheer Buffalo Bill and his heroes of many Nations

Show Preserves Spirit of Old West....
1902, July 26  The Saint Paul Globe 

Young America feasted its eyes yesterday on everything that young America most admires. It winked those orbs rapidly when gaudily painted Indians dashed into the arena. It applauded liberally when reckless cowboys, wild looking Cossacks and fierce Mexicans swarmed after those Indians. But it was when Buffalo Bill himself, proceeded by a rider carrying the American flag, rode into the arena and took his place at the head of his roughriders of the world that young America's enthusiasm reached its highest pitch. For Young American's hero is "Buffalo Bill" and yesterday "Buffalo Bill" was in town.
          ....Because it is absolutely unique and because, as somebody in the big audience said yesterday, "It all really happened long ago," the Wild West show seems never to lose its hold on the interest of the people of America. Col. Cody has caught and imprisoned under his canvas the very spirit of the old West and the younger generation who know of that West only through books and the older generation who know it through experience are alike delighted at every fresh glimpse of it.... "          

1902, July 26  The Saint Paul Globe 

All of this is true today. Because we haven't changed how we portray Native Americans, we still see them togged out in primitive attire, savages against their enemies, painted and feathered, and dancing for the masses. This is how they're STILL portrayed as mascots - by school students !!! - and that thought should be appalling to all of us. The fact that our public schools still allow students to represent indigenous people in this manner is an outrage.

Kids continuing the tradition of  ENDIANS & cultural appropriation - under the guise of it being "honorable"

When will we acknowledge that presenting indigenous culture and history in this light is paying homage to forced assimilation and cultural elimination?