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Post by ephriam on May 9, 2009 22:56:41 GMT -5
Anyone have additional information?
BLACK ROAD Canku Sapa (c1836-1910). Oglala. Medicine man.
Born about 1836, the medicine man Black Road was presumably with the non-treaty bands during the Great Sioux War of 1876-77. He was among the Oglala who surrendered at the Tongue River Cantonment (Fort Keogh) in 1880 where he was consulted by the parents of Black Elk when their young son was troubled by a powerful vision.1 Black Road was among the Oglala transferred to the Standing Rock Agency in 1881 and then to the Pine Ridge Reservation in 1882.2 Here he settled in the White Clay District. In 1890, he was listed as a member of the Siksicela Band. Black Road died November 15, 1910.3 -------------- 1. DeMallie, The Sixth Grandfather, p. 214-224. 2. Big Road Roster (He Dog’s Band), 1881; Standing Rock Agency Annuity List (Little Hawk’s Band), 1881; Pine Ridge Agency ledger book, 1880-82. 3. Pine Ridge Agency census, 1890. Death Records, Pine Ridge Agency.
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Post by Dietmar on May 10, 2009 4:54:04 GMT -5
Hello Ephriam, according to his own account, Black Elk had been instructed in his youth by holy men as Black Road and Whirlwind Chaser and also by Elk Head, Keeper of the Sacred Pipe. When young, 17 year old, Black Elk had dreamed a powerful vision, Black Road, the old medicine man, instructed Black Elk to relieve the fear. The usual course for one who had a vision of the Thunder-beings was to participate in a "heyoka" ceremony. The thunder dreamers would play the role of Thunder's messengers by acting foolishly, doing things backwards and making themselves as clowns to be laughed at. But rather than "heyoka," Black Road suggested that Black Elk act out part of his powerful vision in a horse dance. From this point forward Black Elk became a powerful medicine man of the Oglala. It was the Spring of 1881. He continued to seek understanding of his vision and he went on another vision quest. (see: Black Elk Speaks) Black Road was the original leader of the Oglala Bow Society. See also here: www.publicanthropology.org/Archive/Aa1934.htmBlish, Helen H. 1934. The Ceremony of the Sacred Bow of the Oglala Dakota. American Anthropologist 36 (2): 180-187. In "The Ceremony of the Sacred Bow of the Oglala Dakota," Helen Blish addresses what the Ceremony of the Sacred Bow is to one Dakota tribe, the Oglala, a topic that she believes has escaped the attention of fellow ethnologists. Blish argues that the Sacred Bow society is more than a common warrior society; it also has a significant ceremonial and spiritual role. Her most important sources are two older members of the society, He Dog and Short Bull. Through them, Blish constructs a history of and describes the elements of the Sacred Bow society. She begins with the spiritual origins of the group. While sick with the small pox, one man, Black Road, dreamed of the Thunder who told him of the ceremony. Black Road, a medicine man, became the leader and appointed the men who would carry the Sacred Bow. Blish continues by discussing the obvious purpose of the ceremony, "preparation for war." She then describes the participants, what they carry, their taboos, their prominence in the society, and how they dress. She discusses the significances of regalia, the painted markings on the participant and his horse, and different material objects used in the ceremony. After examining each of these elements, Blish interprets the different symbols related to each of these things. Most of these elements connect to spirits such as the Thunder and others like the long-tailed deer believed to carry powerful magic. They symbolize different representations of both strength and prayer for protection in warfare. Thus, the ceremony, Blish shows, is more than a preparation for battle by showing one’s strength; it is also a plea to the spirits for protection. MICHELE A. PARKE California State University, Hayward (Dr. Peter J. Claus) another quote: Among the Sioux a hoop was featured in many ceremonies. A hoop about two feet in diameter, with two strings crossing its center, was important in the Bear dance of the Santees. Members of the Oglala Sacred Bow Society wore small hoops, three inches in diameter, with crossed strings of Rawhide dyed blue, slung over their left shoulders by thongs. The man who envisioned the society was a noted shaman named Black Road, and he used a hoop when doctoring. See: Reginald Laubin, Indian dances of North America: their importance to Indian life, University of Oklahoma Press, 1989, page 477
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Post by Dietmar on May 10, 2009 5:09:25 GMT -5
Blish describes the Sacred Bow Ceremony, initiated by a famous Oglala medicine man, Black Road, in great detail. As a young man, Black Road was driven away from the tribe into the wilderness by a chief medicine man because he had chicken pox. “In his solitude he dreamed of Thunder beings instructing him as to the Sacred Bow Ceremony. After his recovery he returned to his people and ceremonially organized the Sacred Bow Society”. (…) Black Road was a medicine man who regarded with almost “superstitious respect” among his tribe. Blish, Helen H. “The Ceremony of the Sacred Bow of the Oglala Dakota” American Anthropologist. n.s. 36(1934): 180.187.
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Post by Historian on May 10, 2009 7:36:53 GMT -5
Hello Ephriam, according to his own account, Black Elk had been instructed in his youth by holy men as Black Road and Whirlwind Chaser and also by Elk Head, Keeper of the Sacred Pipe. When young, 17 year old, Black Elk had dreamed a powerful vision, Black Road, the old medicine man, instructed Black Elk to relieve the fear. The usual course for one who had a vision of the Thunder-beings was to participate in a "heyoka" ceremony. The thunder dreamers would play the role of Thunder's messengers by acting foolishly, doing things backwards and making themselves as clowns to be laughed at. But rather than "heyoka," Black Road suggested that Black Elk act out part of his powerful vision in a horse dance.... Black Elk participated in a Horse Dance ceremony and a Heyoka ceremony. Both Black Road and Black Elk were powerful Heyoka.
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Post by carlo on Dec 5, 2012 5:45:22 GMT -5
Does anyone know if any of the four Sacred Bows of the Oglala survived? A picture, in a museum, private collection...?
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