What is the Native American Ghost Dance?

Answer 1

In January 1889, a Paiute Indian, Wavoka, or Jack Wilson, had a revelation during a total eclipse of the sun. It was the genesis of a religious movement that would become known as the Ghost Dance. It was this dance that the Indians believed would reunite them with friends and relatives in the ghost world. As the movement spread from tribe to tribe, it soon took on proportions beyond its original intent and desperate Indians began dancing and singing the songs that would cause the world to open up and swallow all other people while the Indians and their friends would remain on this land, which would return to its beautiful and natural state. The unity and fervor that the Ghost Dance Movement inspired, however, spurred only fear and hysteria among white settlers which ultimately contributed to the events ending in the massacre at Wounded Knee.

Answer 2

The principal ritual of the Ghost Dance religion was the dance itself. Ghost Dancers also continued to perform the rituals of their respective tribes. The Ghost Dance was a fluid religion that evolved as it spread, and several distinct movements arose as descendants of the original (1870) Ghost Dance.

In its Lakota version, the Ghost Dance circle usually had at its center a tree decorated with feathers and other symbolic ornaments that constituted offerings to the divine powers. After opening invocations, prayers, and exhortations, the dancers joined hands and began a frenetic circle dance. Many who were sick participated in the hope of being cured, and many fell down, sometimes unconscious, sometimes in trance, as the dance progressed. Eventually the dancing stopped and the participants sat in a circle, relating their experiences and visions. Later the dance might be repeated.

Answer 3

the Ghost Dance was performed by The People in hopes the revelation given to them by Wovoka would be true and the dead People would rise again ending the control of the White man. on December 29th 1890 there was a confrontation of Ghost Dance participants and the 7th Cavalry in which the Wounded Knee Massacre took place. there is a book titled " Ghost Dance " written by George Mooney which is a classic explanation and one of the best books for researching this phenomena

Answer 4

Last ditch attempt to motivate the tribe by Crazy Horse. The story was that once the ghost dance was done an Indian, feather, was bullet proof.

Didn't work.

Answer 5

It is just a spiritual Dance that the Americans Indians use to drive out their common enemy.... Which was the White man at that time.................. What happen at wounded Knee was showing the world just how superstition that white men of that time period were when they felt that what the white man did to the Americans Indians over the years would help that spiritual dance work. So they just butchered The American Indian's that were preforming that spiritual dance at wounded knee...............................

Answer 6

the Ghost Dance was started by Wovoka.

In this people dance until they lose consciousness and fall to the ground.

Some supposedly have encounters with their ancestors while they are unconscious.