This week the ghost dance and other “new” native religious movements was one of the big topics of discussion. I just don’t quite understand why the army and white settlers got so riled up about all the different dances. I guess the more “established” things like the peyotism or Smoholla’s message would be troubling for the white simply because it was not at all Christian. There was defiantly no Jesus love there. But why were the many dances such a huge problem? These don’t seem like a set religion, more of a way of expression. The Ghost dance was making a connection to people’s ancestors, and the powwow dances were just community event. Were the whites so paranoid that they thought these mighty savage Indians would scalp them in their sleep after doing these dances?? Seriously, it really makes the settlers out as rather cowardly people.
Also, one of the presentations today was over the Nez Perce tribe. My grandpa was really into westerns and he had this one about Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce trying to escape the reservation/escape to Canada. I guess Chief Joseph was a rather highly respected chief, and I was just wondering if the article mentioned if he was involved early on with the allotment process. I am not really sure if he was even still around by that time, but it would be interesting to know.