The tribe always camped in a circle and in the middle of the circle was a place called Hocoka, the center. Before the people set out to war, the prophet, or holy man, make a tepee for himself and sat in it alone, looking into the future and seeing in vision all that would befall. The people brought him offerings of gifts, and he made holy emblems and charms to protect them in battle. Then, before sending out the scouts, the warriors assembled in the center of the camp and satin a circle awaiting the prophet. He came forth, singing a holy song, and bestowed upon the warriors the charms that he had made, and told to every man his fate. There is the song of prophecy that he sang. In the last part of the song, where now there are only the sounds of no meaning, he sang words which foretold to each warrior the fate that would befall him in the strife. This song is sung when the tribe is going to war, just before the scouts set out to find the enemy. Song of the seer: In this circle O ye warriors Lo, I tell you Each his future. All shall be As I now reveal it In this circle; Hear ye! - Tatanka-Ptecila Short Bull, describing and singing the Song of the Seer. Short Bull was one of the first followers of Wovoka, who started the ghost dance religion. Do not fight... you must not fight was one of Wovokas messages. Tatanka-Ptecila brought back to his people the messages and the dance. He also made the charmed ghost shirts which would protect the Indians from the white mans bullet. He was a great leader among his people. I call this Pic Hocoka the center.
Posted on: Thu, 31 Oct 2013 19:40:46 +0000
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