About the Wichita Indian Horn Dance

The Wichita Indians used to be a large tribe, however, over the years, the number of Wichita Indians has diminished quite a bit. It is said that only about 320 exist today. Like most Indian tribes, the Wichita depended on agriculture to survive. As a result of their agricultural ways, they held ceremonies and dances to pay tribute to their gods. The Horn Dance is an example of a ceremonial dance performed by the Wichita Indians.

History

The Wichita Indians are said to be a confederacy of the Caddoan Stock. They used to reside in central Texas and near the Arkansas River, however, they now mostly reside in Caddo County, located in western Oklahoma. The Wichita Indians are linguistically related to the Pawnee Indians. The Wichita Indians are most famous for tattooing their faces, to include their eyelids; even the women tattooed themselves. Just like the majority of Indian tribes, the Wichita Indians performed ceremonial dances and held foot races and other traditional activities. One of the ceremonial dances that the Wichita tribe performs in the Horn Dance.

Significance

The Horn Dance is said to be nearly identical to the Green Corn Dance that is performed by Indian tribes in the Eastern United States, although the Green Corn Dance is also performed by Indian tribes in the Southwest, as well. Like a lot of other dances performed by various Indian tribes throughout the United States, very few non-Indians have ever witnessed the Horn Dance. The dance is a sacred rite performed for and by the Wichita Indians.

Time Frame

The origin of the Horn Dance stems from the Wichita Indians' traditional expressions of gratitude to their god, or creator, for providing them with food. At the dance, the Wichita participate in manhood and purification ceremonies, as well. In addition, the dance is also a time to settle any disputes that may have surfaced between tribe members. At the dance, men and women are divided into groups or "camps," according to the clan to which they belong. In early times, the dance marked a time when the Wichita Indians from different areas and camps could convene in one common place and socialize.

Function

The Horn Dance always consisted of the same elements: Hours of stomp-dancing and weaving in a single-file manner. In addition, a medicine man would lead the group while chanting. A line of male dancers would follow the medicine man and answer his exhortations. With shakers on tied to their legs, women dancers would quietly shuffle along with the men.

Considerations

The dance varies in length and is typically taught to the younger generation by the elders who have performed the dance in the past. Spiritually, it is during this time that tribe members ask for forgiveness of the sins they committed in the past year.