The Sun Dance Ceremony

The Sun dance ceremony practiced today by Native Indians across the U.S.A  and Canada is and was in the past practiced by the Plain Indian cultures.

There are several common features practiced when holding a Sundance ceremony.

These include songs , dances ,that have ben passed down through the generations.

The drum pipe, and sacred fire with prayers fasting from food and water even body piercing and trial of physical endurance are all part of the ceremony.

It is for most parts a very grueling ordeal for the dances. Physical and spiritual tests that the participants endure for a sacrifice to the common good of all the people including fasting for several days.

According to tradition young men dance around a pole to which they fasten them selves to with rawhide thongs through the skin on their chests.

However not all sun dances include piercing the object being is for the individual to offer personnel sacrifice for his family.

It can take up to a year to prepare  for a Sundance and includes elders and one person in charge to ensure all goes according to plan.

In 2003 it was decided by the 19^th generation keepers of the sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe of the Lakota asked nonindigenous people to stop attending any Sundance ceremonies.

This was supported by the keepers of the sacred bundles and traditional spiritual leaders from the Lakota ,Dakota , Nakota, and Cheyenne  all issued a proclamation that non-Indian peoples would be banned from the sacred Alters and the Seven sacred rites including the sun dance.

So to day these sacred rituals and ceremonies are not allowed to be photographed or recorded in any way and no money of any description is banned as they believe that any out side influence drives away any spiritual meanings to the ceremonies.

So very few images exist of such events so by keeping the sacred rituals as they should be  sacred.