SOCIAL SINGING AND DANCING-PART 2

OHKI:WE – WATER DRUM

The Ohki:we (Ohki:we is a ceremony for the spirits of the dead) water drum is usually larger than the regular social dance water drum. The Ohki:we water drum is used only for the Ohki:we Ceremony, and on no other occasion.

The Ohki:we Ceremony is done in the month of February or March. About a month or so before the actual Ohki:we is put through, the people who belong to this Society will summon the singers and their society members to begin practicing the songs. When the Ohki:we society begin their practices, they must burn sacred tobacco first and let the spirits of our ancestors know of their intentions. Once the sacred tobacco has been burnt, the singers can assemble the big water drum and begin their practicing until the date of the actual Ohki:we. Once the Ohki:we is completed the women leaders of a Ohki:we take apart the drums which will no be used until the next time Ohki:we comes around.

The regular water drum is used by many of the medicine societies. In these medicine societies specific songs are sung to communicate with the spirits or powers of that particular society. These writings contain some of the general information or teachings about the water drum.

FLUTE

The flute is a wind instrument that is generally made from the sumac tree. In days of long ago our ancestors used this instrument very often. The flute was also used in some medicine societies. Today, there are not many of our people who use the flute, though we do have some who can play it. It is only played by those individuals who are interested in the instrument. The flute is no longer part of our collective spiritual or social life. I do know that almost every Native Nation had flutes and many still do.

GOURD RATTLE

The gourd rattle is made from the gourd plant which is similar to the squash. This fruit is dried and the dry seeds inside make the rattling noise. A hole may be drilled in the gourd and small stones inserted to make a clear and louder rattle. This type of rattle is used in the sacred medicine societies such as 1) Shake pumpkin 2) Little Water and 3) Dark Dance.

OHSTAWA’KO:WA TURTLE RAFFLE

There are two types of turtle rattles and both are used for sacred ceremonies. The smaller ones are used for the Great Feather Dance, the larger by the Hato:wi Society. (Hato:wi are carved wooden masks used to Doctor people). The smaller turtle rattles are preferred by the singers off the Great Feather Dance because they are lighter in weight and can be handled without the singer’s arms becoming tired. It is said that the Great Feather Dance is the Creator’s song. It is one of the most sacred songs. It is also told that on the turtle’s back the world began. It is one reason for which the turtle rattle is used to sing the Creator’s song, known as the Great Feather Dance. When the singers hit the turtle rattle on the wooden bench it represents the action and active life of the world. All of the world’s life becomes alive and moving. When the singers and people yell three times between verses of the song it represents the creation of the human beings when the Creator blew three breaths of life into their mouths. It is for this reason the Great Feather Dance is used to acknowledge gratefully how our life began and to reaffirm life then and today. It is also understood that when the Great Feather Dance is sung, our mother the Earth will grow and become more energized. The birds will hear the song and they too will become renewed and energized. The same holds true of all like forms on our Mother Earth. Our elders have told us on many occasions that when the people don’t participate or sing the Great Feather Dance that Mother Earth will not produce as much as before. If the day ever comes that our people do not ding or participate in the Great Feather Dance the world we know will stop; the gardens will not grow food; there will be no more sunshine; no more rain; no more strawberries; no more water to quench our thirst; no more Grandmother Moon and no more babies will be born. The world will cease as we humans know it. There are many more facts connected to the Great Feather Dance, but one last thing I will tell you is to make sure to have a good mind when you participate in it.