American Indian Story
Native American Lore; “The Origins of the Buffalo Dance”
Summary of the story
The origin of the Buffalo Dance is a story of the buffalo being unhappy with human beings when they came to the land. Human beings try to persuade them so that they can offer themselves for the good of humans. The buffalo did not want to fall into human traps and end up being killed, and their skins turned to blankets and the horns into tools, and therefore they refused the offer (“Native Lore: Origin Of The Buffalo Dance”). When these animals failed to cooperate, it was already a good show that the villagers will go angry and will lack something to cover themselves during winter. There is one hunter who has a daughter who would use the hides brought to her by her talented father, who was an excellent hunter to make garments.
When deer became scarce during the willow breaks and the buffalo were reluctant to offer themselves, she became afraid that there will be a big problem. She, therefore, had to think and do something about it. She went and sang to the buffalo and made a deal with them to become the bride of the largest buffalo (“Native Lore: Origin Of The Buffalo Dance”). Buffalo fell from the sky, and the large buffalo went with her. The farther went looking for her. When the buffalo bellows, the father is trampled to death. The largest buffalo tells the daughter if she can bring her father to life, they will allow him to go back home with her. The daughter then sings a revival song that makes her father come back to life.
They then agree that the buffalo will go to teach humans the buffalo dance if the villagers are willing to sing the revival song.
Source of the story and analysis
The source of this story is from the North American Plains Indians, who are referred to as the Blackfoot tribe. They once had a great bond with the buffalo. It reaches a time when there was hunger, and therefore, they needed some buffalo for food (“Native American Dances – Blackhawk Museum”). Th return of the buffalo assures the native’s plenty of food and resources. The Blackfoot is one of the oldest tribes in the high plains. The people here still wear dark moccasins. They connect buffalo with supernatural powers that bring hope to people, and they associate it with being able to cure illness when they call the spirit of the buffalo. When people performed this dance, they wore animal skills, including those of buffalo and other animals (“The Buffalo Dance”). They held a rod and a rattle on their hands. It also included four tribesmen who represented the directions of the compass. The dance consisted of eight participants who were men who imitated buffalo. Some older men would beat the drums as they prayed for a successful buffalo hunting (Wissler et al.). They would drive away from the famine evil spirit by shouts; then, the whole village would join for a thanksgiving feast.
The symbolism of the story
The buffalo in this story symbolizes abundance. When the daughter sings a soothing song calling the buffalo, a lot of them fall from the sky to feed the people during the feast. The buffalo’s response to the cry of the assures them that there will be plenty of meat during the winter.
The bird in the story is a symbol is also a symbol of good fortune and joy. When the father was almost losing hope because of not being able to find his daughter, this bird appears and informs him that he had seen them, and they were resting over the hill. The hunter sends a message to the daughter through the bird. In another incident, when the father dies, the same bird, Magpie, is used by the daughter to go and look some remains of the father so that she can use them to bring him back to life. Bringing the father back to life will bring back joy to his daughter, who was in sorrow.
Voice and Oration
The writer uses a voice that is positive and argumentative (“World Oral Literature Project: About”). At first, the buffalo is seen as unfriendly to humans; they refuse to be tricked. When things are almost turning to the worst, the daughter of a hunter sings a soothing song to them, and hope is restored. Later in the story, there is an agreement that the buffalo will teach humans their dance if humans sing the song of revival (“Native Lore: Origin Of The Buffalo Dance”). The story also includes some dialogue between the character who ague on different issues hence making it argumentative.
The oration of the story is ceremonial. The story starts with a low tone where it seems that the hope will be lost if the buffalo do not sacrifice themselves to humans. However, there is joy at the end where they fall from the sky, and humans are then assured of abundant meat to eat during the ceremony. Another ceremonial event is depicted with Magpie bird, who represents a messenger in the story and brings hope and joy. Magpie is a source of information that is very useful.
Plot
First, the story represents a conflict between men and wild animals. At the introduction of the story, there is a disagreement where humans try to persuade buffalo for the good of the villagers. The hunters try several times to guide them through the abyss, but they always end up turning aside at the last moment (“The Origin Of The Buffalo Dance”). They fail to cooperate with humans because they do not want to fall into their traps.
Besides, there is a depiction of death and rebirth. The hunter dies while looking for his daughter, who had been carried away by the buffalo. The daughter is given a chance to bring him back to life. Magpie is then sent to look at any remaining piece of the hunter that can be used by his daughter to bring him back to life (“The Origin Of The Buffalo Dance”). She then sings a reviving song that she was taught by her grandmother, and the father breathes again. This does that after death, there is the hope of living still.
Character
Daughter – represents a heroine
The daughter in the story represents heroines we have in society. When the animals decide not to give themselves to the humans for food, she is confident enough to go to the hills call upon them to respond to their plea. Se is even ready to give herself to be married by one of the buffaloes for the sake of the other villagers.
Magpie – Wise Elder in the society
Magpie seems to be very wise and, therefore, can represent a wise elder. When the whole community is in a problem, there is always that one elder who comes up with a solution and solves the problem. As seen in the story, Magpie is the one that reveals the whereabouts of the daughter to the father and looks for a piece of the hunter’s remains, which is used to bring him back to life.
Father – The sacrificial lamb
The father, who is a hunter, represents a sacrifice that is made in the hardship of trying to find for his beloved. At first, he is accompanied by the whole village to look for his daughter, but he is later left alone. The only thing he has is his arrows and bow. The hunter is trampled from the dance of the buffalos, while still sitting and waiting for his daughter at the buffalo wallow. His death, therefore, shows the sacrifice he made alongside all the dangers that faced him.
Theme and issues
The central message in the story of “The Origins of the Buffalo Dance” how people have a culture of animism as part of their religion.it also shows people depend on nature to meet their needs. The village in the story depends on buffalo for meat and clothing. When there is a conflict between humans and animals, humans are seen to be stressed about their future, that is why the daughter goes to an extend of sacrificing to make sure that the other people get favor from the animals (“The Origin Of The Buffalo Dance”). The dependency of nature is seen when the bird acts as a messenger between the father and the daughter.
The relationship between man and animals is also depicted when they agree that the buffalo will show them their dance, and men will be singing the revival song to bring buffaloes that are killed back to life.
Anthropological interpretations vs. native interpretations
The story is made to show how women in society must give up part of their native identity to achieve certain things in life and save the lives of other people. It shows that women have a role and responsibility to play for the good of others. The daughter of the hunter ignored her native responsibilities and took action to go ahead to soothe the buffalo so that the community can get meat for survival. When the whole village goes out to look for the daughter when she is carried away by the buffalo, it shows the culture of togetherness in the community, which should be emulated by everyone (Wissler et al.) It also reveals the role of men in the community of providing for their families. In the story, we see men going for the hunting of buffalo. They are then come home with plenty of meat and animal skins that are used by the villagers for making garments. The daughter of the hunter uses the hides brought by her father to make clothes for him, herself, and the children and grandparents in the community. It shows the importance of taking care of children and older people in society.
Works cited
“The Origin Of The Buffalo Dance.” Prezi.Com, 2020,
https://prezi.com/2xuy-p1o2wdz/the-origin-of-the-buffalo-dance/.
“Native Lore: Origin Of The Buffalo Dance.” Ilhawaii.Net, 1996,
http://www.ilhawaii.net/~stony/lore02.html.
“Native American Dances – Blackhawk Museum.” Blackhawk Museum, 2015,
https://blackhawkmuseum.org/nativedances/.
“The Buffalo Dance.” AAA Native Arts, 2020, https://www.aaanativearts.com/buffalo-dance.
Wissler, Clark et al. Mythology Of The Blackfoot Indians. University Of Nebraska Press,
2007.
“World Oral Literature Project: About.” Oralliterature.Org, 2020,
http://www.oralliterature.org/about/oralliterature.html.