Indian Games and Dances with Native Songs

by Alice C. Fletcher

This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.

Genres: Native American

103 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1915

About the author

Alice Cunningham Fletcher.

Reviews

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this family treasure that has been around for almost a century,copyright date of 1915. I found the telling of the games particularly interesting. The games are among one hundred and thirty tribes belonging to thirty different linguistic stocks. One of my favorites is the I-ou-tin. "This game belongs to the class of guessing games. The form here presented is adapted from the game as played by the Omaha, Otoe, Ponca, and Pawnee tribes, among whom it is a favorite."
"This game is provocative of fun and merriment as well as dexterity of hand and quickness of vision. It also presents a very pretty spectacle. It is greatly enjoyed by Indian men, women and children."

Particularly lovely was the chapter on giving a child a name. "Names are generally retained by men and women throughout life and , to a degree, are regarded as sacred in character."

"These facts concerning the significance of Indian personal names throw light on the widespread custom observed among Indians of never addressing men or women by their personal names or of using those names in their presence. To do so is a breach of good manners. The difficulty of designating a person one wishes to address is met by the use of terms of relationship."

[Therese]

Gift from Dad from Crazy Horse Monument 1998