Tiopa Ki Lakota by D Jordan Redhawk

Author:D Jordan Redhawk [Redhawk, D Jordan]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9780975436660
Publisher: P.D. Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2000-01-02T03:00:00+00:00

The following days were a bit of a blur to Kathleen. Once her warrior had disappeared into the sweat lodge with nearly a dozen others, she forced herself to remain busy to keep the fears at bay. The blonde spent quite a bit of time at her uncisi’s lodge, keeping Hca and Gi company. She tossed and turned her nights away, fighting off her nightmares in silent misery while Nupa slept a few feet away.

The ceremony for the Sun Dance was a welcome distraction, however, and the blonde found all the singing and dancing and other practices quite interesting. It took almost two full days of feasting, singing and ceremony before the center log needed for their dance was finally cut down and set up inside the large ti ikceya. Kathleen had seen Anpo upon occasion through all of it and, though they couldn’t speak to each other, her heart soared when the dark eyes found hers.

“Hanka

!” Nupa exclaimed as he trotted towards her lodge. “Today is the day! Anpo will dance the Sun Dance and show her gratitude to the spirits!”

“Will she be able to come home today?” Kathleen asked, standing from her place by the fire.

“Hau

, Ketlin. She will come home and we will feast in her honor all night!”

His enthusiasm was contagious and the blonde found herself being pulled excitedly along towards the largest lodge. Most of the summer camp’s population was joining them, all crowding happily into the structure and singing a song. She spotted her warrior among the dozen candidates by the center pole that had been put up the previous day.

Anpo looked a bit worn. She was wearing odd clothing - the shirt she wore was painted red and a blue skirt hung from her waist. Her skin was a ruddy color. Nupa had said it was because the shamans had been painting all the dancers with the sacred red color. There were additional adornments of fur and sage around her wrists, ankles and head. The final touches were the cape about her shoulders and the hoop she carried covered with the same material.

The pole in the center had been decorated, as well, since its cutting and placement. It had been a tall, straight cottonwood tree. Now it was stripped of all extraneous branches and leaves. The fork at the top had been painted red and various items could be seen there - sage, fur, and other fetishes. There were also quite a number of braided thongs hanging down to wave gently around the base.

More singing, more drumming and dancing by the shamans and candidates. Hca, who stood beside the blonde smiled as she sang and wrapped an arm around Kathleen’s shoulders. They swayed together as the shamans chanted and drummed through yet another song.

“Now the Sun Dance begins!” Nupa murmured into the pale woman’s ear as the final song was completed.

The level of anticipation seemed to intensify around Kathleen and the candidates circled the pole. There were four shamans there, as well, and

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