Indian Games and Dances with Native Songs

								


Produced by David Newman and PG Distributed Proofreaders

Indian Games and Dances
with Native Songs
Arranged from American Indian
Ceremonials and Sports
BY
ALICE C. FLETCHER
Holder of the Thaw Fellowship, Peabody Museum, Harvard University
Author of The Hako, The Omaha Tribe, Indian Stories and Song, etc.
1915

Dedicated to
THE YOUTH OF AMERICA

PREFACE

This little book took its rise in the following experience that came to me
many years ago when living with the Indians in their homes and pursuing my
ethnological studies:
One day I suddenly realized with a rude shock that, unlike my Indian
friends, I was an alien, a stranger in my native land; its fauna and flora
had no fond, familiar place amid my mental imagery, nor did any thoughts of
human aspiration or love give to its hills and valleys the charm of
personal companionship. I was alone, even in my loneliness.
Time went on. The outward aspect of nature remained the same, but
imperceptibly a change had been wrought in me until I no longer felt alone
in a strange, silent country. I had learned to hear the echoes of a time
when every living thing upon this land and even the varied overshadowing
skies had its voice, a voice that was attentively heard and devoutly heeded
by the ancient people of America. Henceforth, to me the plants, the trees,
the clouds and all things had become vocal with human hopes, fears and
supplications.
When I realized how much closer because of this change I had been drawn to
our land, how much greater had become my enjoyment of nature, the desire
arose to find some way by which I could help to make audible to others the
voice I had heard, and thereby restore to our hills and valleys their lost
human element. Impelled by this purpose I have arranged these dances and
games with native songs in order that our young people may recognize, enjoy
and share in the spirit of the olden life upon this continent.
My obligations are due to Mr. Francis La Flesche of the U. S. Bureau of
American Ethnology and to Mr. Edwin S. Tracy, Musical Director of the
Morris High School of New York City, for assistance in the preparation of
this book.
ALICE C. FLETCHER

CONTENTS

Preface
Introduction
Song and Dance Among the Indians

PART I
DANCES AND SONGS
The Life of the Corn (a Drama in Five Dances)

    Introduction

    Dance I. The Corn Speaks

    Dance II. Planting the Corn

    Dance III. The Corn Springs Up

    Dance IV. The Fields are Ready

    Dance V. Honor to Mother Corn
Calling the Flowers
Appeal for Clear Sky
The H�-de Wa-chi (An Omaha Festival of Joy)

PART II
GAMES
Introduction
HAZARD GAMES
Introductory Note
Pa-tol Stick
Plum Stone
GUESSING GAMES
Introductory Note
Pu-in
At�-a-kut
Hand Game
Hiding the Disks
I-ou'-tin
BALL GAMES
Introduction
Ball and Racket
Ta-b�
Double-ball
Hoop and Javelin
Follow My Leader

PART III
INDIAN NAMES