Indian Games and Dances with Native Songs: Arranged from American Indian Ceremonies and Sports

by Alice C. Fletcher, Helen Myers (Introduction)

One day Alice C. Fletcher realized that "unlike my Indian friends, I was an alien, a stranger in my native land." But while living with the Indians and pursuing her ethnological studies she felt that "the plants, the trees, the clouds and all things had become vocal with human hopes, fears, and supplications." This famous statement comes directly from the preface of this book and was later etched on her tombstone. "I have arranged these dances and games with native songs in order that our young people may recognize, enjoy and share in the spirit of the olden life upon this continent," she wrote. Indian Games and Dances with Native Songs is a collection that conveys the pleasure and meaning of music and play and rhythmic movement for American Indians. Many of the activities here described are adapted from ceremonials and sports. Included is a "drama in five dances" celebrating the life of corn. "Calling the Flowers" is an appeal to spirits dwelling underground to join the dancers. Still another dramatic dance, with accompanying songs, petitions clouds to leave the sky. The Festival of Joy, an ancient Omaha ceremony, is centered on a sacred tree. In the second part Indian ball games and games of hazard and guessing are set forth, as well as the popular hoop and javelin game. Fletcher closes with a section on Indian names.

Genres: Native American

139 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1915

About the author

Alice Cunningham Fletcher.

Reviews

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this family treasure that has been around for almost a century,copyright date of 1915. I found the telling of the games particularly interesting. The games are among one hundred and thirty tribes belonging to thirty different linguistic stocks. One of my favorites is the I-ou-tin. "This game belongs to the class of guessing games. The form here presented is adapted from the game as played by the Omaha, Otoe, Ponca, and Pawnee tribes, among whom it is a favorite."
"This game is provocative of fun and merriment as well as dexterity of hand and quickness of vision. It also presents a very pretty spectacle. It is greatly enjoyed by Indian men, women and children."

Particularly lovely was the chapter on giving a child a name. "Names are generally retained by men and women throughout life and , to a degree, are regarded as sacred in character."

"These facts concerning the significance of Indian personal names throw light on the widespread custom observed among Indians of never addressing men or women by their personal names or of using those names in their presence. To do so is a breach of good manners. The difficulty of designating a person one wishes to address is met by the use of terms of relationship."

[Therese]

Gift from Dad from Crazy Horse Monument 1998