SUN DANCE Information Sheet

HIGHLIGHT OR UNDERLINE ANY KEY WORDS OR PHRASES IN THE BELOW PASSAGE:

The Sun Dance is a religious ceremony practiced by a number of First Nations Peoples, primarily
those of the Plains Nations. Each tribe that has some type of sun dance ceremony has their own
distinct practices and ceremonial protocols. In most cases, the ceremony is held in a priate, or
een secret, location, and is not open to the public. !ost details of the ceremony are "ept secret
out of great respect for, and the desire for protection of, the traditional ways.
In ery general terms, there are features common to the ceremonies of the sun dance cultures,
such as dances and songs passed down through many generations, the use of a traditional drum,
a sacred fire, praying with a pipe, fasting, and in some cases the ceremonial piercing of s"in.
#ertain natie plants are pic"ed and prepared for use during the ceremony. Natural medicines
are used for health and well being, as are traditional foods. $ood is harested for a sacred fire,
and a fire"eeper must tend the fire that burns for many days and nights.
Typically, the sun dance is an agoni%ing ordeal for those who participate in it. &ccording to the
'"lahoma (istorical Society, young men dance around a pole to which they are fastened by
)rawhide thongs pegged through the s"in of their chests.) &lthough not all sun dance ceremonies
include dancers being ritually pierced, the ob*ect of the sun dance is to offer personal sacrifice as
a prayer for the benefit of one+s family and community. The dancers fast for many days, and the
ceremony ta"es place oer a four day period. The ceremony is held outside in the summer time,
in the open air, not fully sheltered from the wind, sun, or rain. Some groups use the same site
each year, while others will moe from place to place.
&t most ceremonies, family members and friends stay in the surrounding camp and pray and
support the dancers. People camp at the site for many days, with some arriing from far away
places. In preparation for the sun dance, wood, food, and medicines are gathered in the
traditional manner, the site is set up, offerings made, elders consulted, and feast food prepared.
There are sweat lodges and other ceremonial preparations. !uch time and energy by the entire
community is needed for the sun dance to wor". #ommunities plan and organi%e for at least a
year to prepare for the ceremony. ,sually there is one leader or a small group of leaders in
charge of the ceremony, but many elders help out and adise. & group of helpers do many of the
tas"s re-uired to prepare for the ceremony.