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Yellow Bird: Preparing for the ritual of the Sundance
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Filed Under: Opinion

"My preparation for the ritual of the Sundance this year has been like my first ceremony. "I'll participate fully," I find myself thinking one day; "I'll participate on the outside," I think the next day.

It's my physical self that doubts I can complete the four days this year.

One of my colleagues sometimes tells me that I am not clear enough about some of the American Indian terms and ceremonies such as the Sundance. So, here is a little about Sundance.

Sundances are held throughout Indian country, and they are as different as each individual tribe yet there are commonalties. We gather to pray and sacrifice for the people as our tribal nations did for thousands of years.

Sundancers are a group of Indian people praying in unison while sacred songs are sung. We fast for four days. The ritual takes six days. I went to my first Sundance with little instruction, few friends and a vision. I must have stopped my car 10 times during that long eight-hour trip to South Dakota. I would sit for a while thinking, "What I am I doing here?" Or "I can't do this.""

Get the Story:
Dorreen Yellow Bird: Summer sun shines on a ritual for the ages (The Grand Forks Herald 7/25)
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