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throughout their village。 Some of the people thought they had been
attacked； and went over to assist them； but to their surprise they were told
that this was the celebration of the birth of the new year！
Our men were treated to minnewakan or 〃spirit water；〃 and they came
home crazy and foolish。 They talked loud and sang all the rest of the
night。 Finally our head chief ordered his young men to tie these men up
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and put them in a lodge by themselves。 He gave orders to untie them
〃when the evil spirit had gone away。〃
During the next day all our people were invited to attend the half…
breeds' dance。 I never knew before that a new year begins in mid…winter。
We had always counted that the year ends when the winter ends； and a
new year begins with the new life in the springtime。
I was now taken for the first time to a white man's dance in a log house。
I thought it was the dizziest thing I ever saw。 One man sat in a cor… ner；
sawing away at a stringed board； and all the while he was stamping the
floor with his foot and giving an occasional shout。 When he called out；
the dancers seemed to move faster。
The men danced with womensomething that we Indians never do
and when the man in the corner shouted they would swing the women
around。 It looked very rude to me； as I stood outside with the other boys
and peeped through the chinks in the logs。 At one time a young man and
woman facing each other danced in the mid… dle of the floor。 I thought
they would surely wear their moccasins out against the rough boards； but
after a few minutes they were relieved by an… other couple。
Then an old man with long curly hair and a fox…skin cap danced alone
in the middle of the room； slapping the floor with his moccasined foot in a
lightning fashion that I have never seen equalled。 He seemed to be a
leader among them。 When he had finished； the old man invited our
principal chief into the middle of the floor； and
after the Indian had given a great whoop； the two drank in company。
After this； there was so much drinking and loud talking among the men；
that it was thought best to send us children back to the camp。
It was at this place that we found many sand boulders like a big 〃white
man's house。〃 There were holes in them like rooms； and we played in
these cave…like holes。 One day； in the midst of our game； we found the
skeleton of a great bear。 Evidently he had been wounded and came there
to die； for there were several arrows on the floor of the cave。
The most exciting event of this year was the attack that the Gros
Ventres made upon us just as we moved our camp upon the table land back
of the river in the spring。 We had plenty of meat then and everybody was
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happy。 The grass was beginning to appear and the ponies to grow fat。
One night there was a war dance。 A few of our young men had
planned to invade the Gros Ventres country； but it seemed that they too
had been thinking of us。 Everybody was interested in the proposed war
party。
〃Uncle； are you going too？〃 I eagerly asked him。
〃No；〃 he replied； with a long sigh。 〃It is the worst time of year to go on
the war…path。 We shall have plenty of fighting this summer； as we are
going to trench upon their territory in our hunts；〃 he added。
The night was clear and pleasant。 The war drum was answered by
the howls of coyotes on the opposite side of the Mouse river。 I was in the
throng； watching the braves who were about to go out in search of glory。
〃I wish I were old enough； I would surely go with this party；〃 I thought。
My friend Tatanka was to go。 He was several years older than I； and a
hero in my eyes。 I watched him as he danced with the rest until nearly
midnight。 Then I came back to our teepee and rolled myself in my
buffalo robe and was soon lost in sleep。
Suddenly I was aroused by loud war cries。 〃'Woo！ woo！ hay…ay！ hay…
ay！ U we do！ U we do！'〃 I jumped upon my feet； snatched my bow and
arrows and rushed out of the teepee； franti… cally yelling as I went。
〃Stop！ stop！〃 screamed Uncheedah； and caught me by my long hair。
By this time the Gros Ventres had encircled our camp； sending volleys
of arrows and bullets into our midst。 The women were digging ditches in
which to put their children。
My uncle was foremost in the battle。 The Sioux bravely withstood
the assault； although several of our men had already fallen。 Many of the
enemy were killed in the field around our teepees。 The Sioux at last got
their ponies and made a counter charge； led by Oyemakasan （my uncle）。
They cut the Gros Ventre party in two； and drove them off。
My friend Tatanka was killed。 I took one of his eagle feathers；
thinking I would wear it the first time that I ever went upon the war…path。
I thought I would give anything for the oppor… tunity to go against the
Gros Ventres； because they killed my friend。 The war songs； the wail…
ing for the dead； the howling of the dogs was intolerable to me。 Soon
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after this we broke up our camp and departed for new scenes。
III： Wild Harvests
WHEN our people lived in Min… nesota； a good part of their natur… al
subsistence was furnished by the wild rice； which grew abun… dantly in all
of that region。 Around the shores and all over some of the innumerable
lakes of the 〃Land of Sky…blue Water〃 was this wild cereal found。 In…
deed； some of the watery fields in those days might be compared in extent
and fruitfulness with the fields of wheat on Minnesota's magnificent farms
to…day。
The wild rice harvesters came in groups of fif… teen to twenty families
to a lake； depending upon the size of the harvest。 Some of the Indians
hunted buffalo upon the prairie at this season； but there were more who
preferred to go to the lakes to gather wild rice；