Saturday 18 August 2018

Heyoka, Sun Dance And Lakota Culture

By Angela Fisher


When it comes to Native American history, some tribes are more well known than others. While this is the case, the lakota culture ceremonial and ritual practices are often well known. In fact, Sun Dance has become well known world-wide though the ceremonial is still considered a sacred rite among tribe members.

Another aspect of this culture is that of the Heyoka. While the Heyoka has ties to both the Sioux and lakota, which is actually a branch of of the Sioux, it is only tribal members whom have been visited by thunder that have been accepted by the larger community as a Heyoka. In the simplest terms, a Heyoka is a sacred clown or jester whom reacts in opposition to others through speaking out, satirist moves and contrarian acts.

Sun Dance remains one of the most well known Native American rituals of the Lakota people. While practiced by Indigenous tribes of North America and Canada, the ceremony is a coming together of different tribes to pray for healing which involves a sacrificial act. While this is the case, there are also a number of pow wows in which tribal members come together in full regalia to celebrate, pray and practice ceremonies and rituals associated with the tribe.

Sun Dance, one of many ceremonies prohibited by the Canadian and United States governments was aimed at suppressing Indigenous cultures from practicing Sun Dance and other ceremonies. Canada eventually lifted prohibition against Sun Dance, speaking native languages and other Indigenous practices. Unlike Canada, Indigenous tribes in the United States continued to ban the speaking of Native American languages and the practice of Sun Dance and other cultural activities until the late 1970s.

The Native Americans, Native Hawaiians, Aleuts and Eskimos gained protection through an act of the United States Congress which gave protection to the tribes along with preserving the religious and cultural rights associated with each of the tribes. After which, tribes could once again practice the ceremonies, rituals and speak using the native language of the tribe.

Sun Dance, one of the most sacred of Indigenous ceremonies is often considered a test of physical and spiritual endurance. For, the practice involves tribal members dancing around another member whom is attached to a pole with thongs. At some point and time during the ritual, the members pierce the chest skin of the individual on the pole. After which, the letting of blood represents the sacrificial element of the ceremony.

Most tribal members are hesitant to discuss the specifics associated with various ceremonies and rituals. Due to the long period of misappropriation, tribes often fear outsiders will take and use the ceremony out of context. As such, most of the ceremonies and rituals are now presented in Native tongue so that the specifics of the events remain unknown to outsiders.

Later, the Lakota people passed a declaration of war associated with exploiting the tribe. The declaration was originated and unanimously passed at an event known as the Lakota Summit V. After which, those caught using the ceremonies, rituals or exploiting the tribe in any way could be prosecuted, tried and punished under a local tribunal court.




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