Wovoka

ghost Dance, originally uploaded by The Stranger.

The movement began with a dream by Wovoka during the solar eclipse on January 1, 1889. He claimed that, in his dream, he was taken into the spirit world and saw all Native Americans being taken up into the sky and the Earth opening up to swallow all Whites and to revert back to its natural state. The Native Americans, along with their ancestors, were put back upon the earth to live in peace. He also claimed that he was shown that, by dancing the round-dance continuously, the dream would become a reality and the participants would enjoy the new Earth.

He told his followers that since Jesus was upon the earth already, they should dance the dance and that, although he did not know if the resurrection would be in the winter or the spring, it would be soon. He also told them to remain peaceful and keep the reason for the dance secret from the Whites.

the Lakota developed a militaristic approach to the dance and began making "ghost shirts" they said would protect them from bullets. They also spoke openly about why they were dancing. The BIA agent in charge of the Lakotas eventually sent the tribal police to arrest Sitting Bull, a leader respected among the Lakotas, to force him to stop the dance. In the struggle that followed, Sitting Bull was killed along with a number of policemen. Following the killing of Sitting Bull, the United States sent the Seventh Cavalry to "disarm the Lakota and take control". During the events that followed, many Lakota were killed and several soldiers died. The Lakota allege that this was a massacre rather than a battle, and that the soldiers shot unprovoked.

When it became apparent that ghost shirts did not protect from bullets and the expected resurrection did not happen, most former believers quit the Ghost Dance. Wovoka, disturbed by the death threats and disappointed with the many reinterpretations of his vision, gave up his public speaking. There are still members of the religious movement today.

- dancing in a circular pattern continuously - which induced a state of religious ecstasy.


The dance as envisioned by Wovoka: "When you get home you must begin a dance and continue for five days. Dance for four successive nights, and on the last night continue dancing until the morning of the fifth day, when all must bathe in the river and then return to their homes. You must all do this in the same way. ...I want you to dance every six weeks. Make a feast at the dance and have food that everybody may eat." He also told the dancers to remain peaceful, work for the Whites, be truthful, and abstain from alcohol.

The Natdia, it is claimed, brings about renewal of native society and decline in the influence of the Whites. In essence, it is said to heal the earth and to heal all the people of the four worlds, that is, red, black, white, and yellow.

Believers in the Ghost Dance spirituality are convinced that performing the Ghost Dance will eventually reunite them with their ancestors coming by railway from the spirit world. The ancestor spirits, including the spirit of Jesus, are called upon to heal the sick and to help protect Mother Earth. Meanwhile, the world will return to a primordial state of natural beauty, opening up to swallow up all other people (those who do not have a strong spirituality based upon the earth). The performers of the Ghost Dance theoretically will float in safety above with their ancestors, family, and peoples of the world who follow the extensive spirituality.