There are three voices in the book The Way to Rainy Mountain, the first voice symbolizing ancient leadership, the second being one that narrates history. The second voice is of historical commentary and the third is that of personal reminiscence.
The Sun dance was a ceremony not of worshipping the sun but rather derived its name from the participants’ practice of starring upward or gazing into the sun. The dance was celebrated during the summer. The groups in which the Kiowa were divided into six referred to as bands who performed separate duties while they camped around central lodge constructed from buffalo skin. Near the east were the Kata who were responsible for providing the buffalo for the ceremony then the Kogui or ‘Elks Band’, the Kaig-wa who held a small human image which was the holiest religious object the Kiowa possessed.
The second ‘getting ready’ day was marked by the killing of the buffalo for the dance. The buffalo was revered by the Kiowa, not only for its’ strength stature but for it after products that it provided the people.
The bull was to be killed by an arrow or a bullet. An injured kill, was described as a sign of bad misfortune. After the kill, numerous rituals to purify the buffalo head thereafter placed in an area next to the central lodge pole.
The first dancing day commenced at sundown until midnight. The final day started at dawn and ends at night. The dancing started the first day and continued the entire four days.
Troops were often sent frequently to interfere and break up the ceremonies. The U.S.A policy during this time was to break up tribal land holdings into individually owned allotments of land.
References
Momaday, N S, and Al Momaday. The Way to Rainy Mountain. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 1969. Print.
