Post by Okwes on Jun 3, 2007 15:34:09 GMT -5
Crow Indian Water-Medicine - Blackfoot
Once a Crow Indian had a son killed in war. He was in mourning: so he took
his lodge into the mountains and camped there that he might have dreams in
which power would be given him to revenge the death of his son. He slept in
the mountains ten nights. At last as he was sleeping, he had a dream, and in
this dream he heard drumming and singing. Then a man appeared and said,
"Come over here: there is dancing." So he followed the man. They came to a
lodge in which there were many old men and women. There were eight men with
drums. He also saw weasel-skins, skins of the mink and otter, a whistle, a
smudge-stick, some wild turnip for the smudge, and some berry-soup in a
kettle. One old woman had an otter-skin with a weasel-skin around it like a
belt. So the man staid there, learned the songs which these people sang, and
when he came back to his people he started the Crow-water-medicine. Since
that time he has had other dreams: and the skins of the beaver, the muskrat,
all kinds of birds, etc., with many songs for each, have been added.
This medicine has great power. If any one wishes a horse, he calls in some
of the Crow-water-medicine people. Then they pray, sing, and dance.
The power of this medicine is such that after a while a man may come along
and say, "I have had a bad dream. You must paint me, that the dream may not
come true." Then he gives a horse as a fee. The medicine has power also in
treating the sick. The people who have this medicine meet at regular
times, - on Sundays and at the time of the new moon. They paint their faces
with a broad red stripe across the forehead, and one across the mouth and
cheeks. A rectangle of red is also painted on the back of each hand. Some
wear plumes.
Anthropological Papers American Museum of Natural History, Vol. II, 1908.
Once a Crow Indian had a son killed in war. He was in mourning: so he took
his lodge into the mountains and camped there that he might have dreams in
which power would be given him to revenge the death of his son. He slept in
the mountains ten nights. At last as he was sleeping, he had a dream, and in
this dream he heard drumming and singing. Then a man appeared and said,
"Come over here: there is dancing." So he followed the man. They came to a
lodge in which there were many old men and women. There were eight men with
drums. He also saw weasel-skins, skins of the mink and otter, a whistle, a
smudge-stick, some wild turnip for the smudge, and some berry-soup in a
kettle. One old woman had an otter-skin with a weasel-skin around it like a
belt. So the man staid there, learned the songs which these people sang, and
when he came back to his people he started the Crow-water-medicine. Since
that time he has had other dreams: and the skins of the beaver, the muskrat,
all kinds of birds, etc., with many songs for each, have been added.
This medicine has great power. If any one wishes a horse, he calls in some
of the Crow-water-medicine people. Then they pray, sing, and dance.
The power of this medicine is such that after a while a man may come along
and say, "I have had a bad dream. You must paint me, that the dream may not
come true." Then he gives a horse as a fee. The medicine has power also in
treating the sick. The people who have this medicine meet at regular
times, - on Sundays and at the time of the new moon. They paint their faces
with a broad red stripe across the forehead, and one across the mouth and
cheeks. A rectangle of red is also painted on the back of each hand. Some
wear plumes.
Anthropological Papers American Museum of Natural History, Vol. II, 1908.