Essay On Ghost Dance

It was a great time of despair for the Native American people whose life’s were drastically changed by the expansion of the United States westward forced relocations onto reservations disrupted their cultural lifestyle for hundreds of years. The “Ghost Dance” was created to give the native people some hope at a time where disease, death and oppression peaked. reasons for the Indian’s predicament at this time in their history included: lack of hunting, decease of the buffalo, forced abandonment of their religion, ceremonial customs, and forced conversion to Christianity. As each tribes’ social structure quickly disintegrated a spiritual movement known as the Ghost Dance materialized. Wovoka (1856-1932), also known as Jack Wilson,
Traditional rituals used in this dance are similar to the circle dance. The ghost dance has been used by Native Americans since prehistoric times but was first performed in accordance with Jack Wilson teaching among the Nevada Paiute in 1889. Wovoka's faith was based on non-violence with whites. In fact, he even urged his followers not to tell the whites what they were doing. The Ghost Dance is a ceremony of ritual practices rejuvenating mother earth. Consequently, earth shall be restored to a life full of bliss. It was also said that the dance would bring back dead ancestors and spiritually reunite loved
Kicking Bear was forced to leave Standing Rock, but when the dances continued unabated, Agent McLaughlin asked for more troops, claiming that Hunkpapa spiritual leader “Sitting Bull” was the real leader of the movement. A former agent, Valentine McGillycuddy, saw nothing extraordinary in the dances and ridiculed the panic that seemed to have overcome the agencies, saying: "The coming of the troops has frightened the Indians. If the Seventh-Day Adventists prepare the ascension robes for the Second Coming of the Savior, the United States Army is not put in motion to prevent them. Why should not the Indians have the same privilege? If the troops remain, trouble is sure to