The GHOST Dance

Introduction

The Ghost Dance was a spiritual and social movement that swept through numerous Native American tribes in the late 19th century. It emerged during a time of immense hardship and cultural upheaval, as indigenous communities faced forced assimilation, displacement, and the loss of their ancestral lands. The Ghost Dance offered a message of hope and resistance, promising a return to traditional ways of life and the restoration of harmony and prosperity.

Historical Context

Origins and Spread: 

The Ghost Dance originated with the Paiute Prophet Wodziwob, a Paiute prophet in the late 19th century, who initiated an early version of the Ghost Dance movement (1869-1872). He preached that performing a ceremonial dance would bring back deceased Native Americans and restore their lands. Though his movement declined, it influenced the later Ghost Dance led by Wovoka in the 1890s, which became a major symbol of Native American resistance to U.S. expansion.

The 19 century Ghost Dance movement, which this course will be focusing on, is believed to have originated in 1889 with the Paiute prophet Wovoka, who received a vision foretelling a world where the dead would return, the buffalo herds would be restored, and the white settlers would disappear. The practice of the Ghost Dance spread rapidly across the western United States, particularly among the Great Plains tribes, who saw it as a means to revitalize their cultures and resist further encroachment on their sovereignty.

https://apps.lib.umich.edu/online-exhibits/exhibits/show/great-native-american-chiefs/group-of-native-american-chief/wovoka

Rituals and Beliefs: 

The Ghost Dance typically involved a large group of participants, both men and women, dancing in a circle for days at a time. They wore specially designed "ghost shirts," believed to offer protection from the bullets of the white soldiers. The dancers entered trance-like states, seeking visions of the future and communicating with their ancestors.

Wounded Knee Massacre: 

Prior to Wounded Knee, Lakota chief Sitting Bull fought Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer in 1876, which led to the defeat at the Battle of Little Bighorn. This battle further spread anti-Native sentiments, as the news of Custer’s defeat “outraged many white Americans and confirmed their image of the Indians as wild and bloodthirsty.” (History.com* citation). While Sitting Bull wasn’t arrested, he was kept under watch as the U.S. government viewed him as a harsh adversary (Philbrick 2011). When Sitting Bull let Ghost dancers perform their ceremonies on his land, the government took action to prevent the Ghost Dance’s spread. In an attempt to arrest Chief Sitting Bull, the U.S. army met resistance from the local community, which ended with a U.S officer assassinating Sitting Bull (Dockstader 1977). This event sparked an event that saw other Lakota tribes headed to Pine Ridge in fear that the U.S. government may kill more chiefs. However, on the way to Pine Ridge, they were intercepted at Wounded Knee.

On December 29th, 1890, 500 U.S. soldiers gathered outside Wounded Knee, South Dakota where a Ghost Dance circle was forming. There, perhaps as revenge for the humiliation the 7th cavalry regiment received at Little Bighorn, soldiers began to fire on the gathering Lakota(“Wounded Knee: Massacre, Memorial & Battle - History.”). General James W. Forsyth asked for the Lakota to hand over their weapons. The leader of the Lakota, Chief Bigfoot, complied, but some warriors still held onto their weapons. One Lakota man refused to turn in his weapon - and set off the shot that would change the course of American history (Phillips 2006).  As the Lakota warrior Turning Hawk describes, “[one of the Indian warriors] fired his gun, and of course, the firing of a gun must have been the breaking of a military rule of some sort, because immediately the soldiers returned fire, and indiscriminate killing followed” (Bateman 2018). Though there was an exchange of gunshots at first, the conflict soon turned into a one-sided massacre, with the soldiers chasing down women and children on horseback to complete their mission. The conflict was treated as a battle, and surviving soldiers were awarded medals of honor (“Wounded Knee: Massacre, Memorial & Battle - History.”). 

https://www.history.com/news/wounded-knee-massacre-facts

The Wounded Knee Monument in the m​odern day. 

https://www.history.com/topics/native-american-history/wounded-knee

Legacy and Resilience: 

Despite its decline following the Wounded Knee Massacre, the Ghost Dance remains a powerful symbol of Native American resilience and the ongoing struggle for cultural preservation. Certain branches, such as the Kiowa Ghost Dance, would persevere through different forms for decades to come. The lessons of resilience and resistance taught by the Ghost Dance became an integral part of the perseverance of first nation individuals during a period of religious intolerance.

The events in 1890 at Wounded Knee stemmed from a systemic racist system that the federal government actively supported and encouraged. It took a genocide of over 200 indigenous natives and a full century of protest to finally break through into the American Imagination, demonstrating the extent of U.S. suppression of indigenous ideas. Though this same suppression still exists today, avid demonstrations to amend historical wrongs are in progress. Currently, Senators Warren and Merkley and Congressman Kahele are supporting a bill to rescind the medals of honor granted to those who fought at Wounded Knee (“Warren, Merkley, Kahele Lead Bicameral Letter Urging Biden to Rescind Medals of Honor Awarded to Soldiers who Perpetrated Wounded Knee Massacre”). Though this is little more than a sign of regret and a symbol of appeasement, it does demonstrate how this event shifted this country from ignorance of indigenous culture to finally recognizing its existence. In conclusion, the massacre of Wounded Knee must become a nationally recognized event and should be taught at all education levels. To stand on the right side of history, this country must take steps to recognize its wrongdoings and actively work to better its systems in the future. Both of these start with education as only through education can society work to improve a generation of racial and cultural expression.

The Ghost Dance Movement | Native American Culture | Wounded Knee Massacre

Video Description: 

"The Ghost Dance was a spiritual movement amongst Native Americans that lived in the American west. It began at the end of the 19th century and had a massive influence for the Natives living in the area. It emerged at the time of the last great battles in the country, so sadly it's linked with the Wounded Knee massacre."

Key Points from the Video:

Origins:

• Spiritual movement among Native Americans in the West.

• Began with visions of the Paiute elder Wodziwob in 1869.

• Visions foretold renewal of the earth and help for Native people.

• Early visions included removal of settlers, later visions focused on peaceful coexistence.

• Central ceremony involved a communal circle dance.

Woka's Prophecy and Spread of the Dance:

• Paiute named Woka (Jack Wilson) had a vision in 1889 during a solar eclipse.

• His vision echoed Wodziwob's, predicting settler departure, buffalo return, and land restoration.

• Woka's teachings emphasized peace with settlers and incorporated some Christian elements.

• The Ghost Dance spread across tribes, with leaders traveling to teach the ceremony.

The Dance and its Symbolism:

• Participants wore "ghost shirts" believed to offer protection.

• Dancers formed a circle, shuffling and swaying to rhythmic songs.

• Trance states and unconsciousness were common during the dance.

• The dance often involved hundreds or even thousands of people.

Conflict and the Wounded Knee Massacre:

• The Bureau of Indian Affairs grew concerned about the large gatherings.

• Lakota leader Sitting Bull was killed during an attempted arrest.

• The U.S. Army intervened, leading to the Wounded Knee Massacre in 1890.

• Over 200 Lakota were killed, marking a turning point for the Ghost Dance.

Decline and Legacy:

• The movement declined after Wounded Knee, as the prophecies didn't materialize.

• Woka ceased public speaking but remained respected among his followers.

• The Ghost Dance adapted and continued in some areas, influencing later movements.

• The movement remains a symbol of Native American resilience and cultural preservation.

Additional Resources

"Ghost Dance: Last Hope of the Sioux" by Dorothy M. Johnson

The paper paints a picture of desperation and hope among the Lakota people in the late 19th century. 

• The Lakota, led by Sitting Bull, are facing extreme hardship. Their primary food source, the buffalo, is gone, their attempts at farming have failed, and disease is rampant. They are starving and have lost hope.

• A Glimmer of Hope: News of a new Messiah, Wovoka, spreads among the tribes. He promises a return to the old ways, with the buffalo restored and the white settlers gone. The Lakota, desperate for a miracle, embrace this message.

• The Ghost Dance: The new religion involves a sacred dance and songs. Kicking Bear, a Lakota leader who has met Wovoka, returns to teach the dance to Sitting Bull and others. They believe that by performing this dance, they can hasten the coming of the new world Wovoka has promised.

• Foreshadowing: The article ends with Kicking Bear's declaration that he can make seven priests, hinting at the growing momentum of the Ghost Dance movement. However, the title and introduction foreshadow a tragic end, referencing Wounded Knee, a massacre that marked the brutal suppression of the Ghost Dance by the US government. 

End of unit exercises

Essay

• Analyze the impact of the Ghost Dance on Native American communities, considering its role in fostering cultural revitalization, resistance, and resilience.