Before the visioners come down off of the hill, we decorate the circle and sweat lodge area with colorful prayer ties and Waluta bundles. Tu Bears had already picked out where the visioners were to set their prayer ties and willow branches while they went into Sweat Lodge. These ties and branches are what created their 'home' for the last 3 days. We made that site especially colorful.

Once the visioners have gone into sweat lodge and spoken of their visions. their vow of silence is over. There is much excitement in camp then as the preparation for the final part of the VQ ceremony begins. Once the sweat lodge is complete and the last of the water poured on the rocks in lodge producing a last burst of steam to carry up the final prayers, we step out of the lodge. Everyone rushes off to change the wet clothing into their ceremonial garb. As soon as we are reassembled, the drum begins.

I wanna take a Chahta side trip here.... Smile....

Our ceremonial drum was created especially for Tu Bears. Everybody loves our drum. It is an octagon 10 1/2 in. in depth and is 29 1/2 in. across. It has hide covering both centers.... so it's essentially two drums (and they sound different too!). Our mallets are usually made of wood sticks with the striking end covered in (imitation) lamb's wool. The sound this drum produces is awesome. We had this drum set up to start the moment we had reassembled. And when we were ready, the drumming began.

Back to the story:

The visioners are lined up. The first one picks up their prayer ties and sticks and begins to dance around the fire by themselves 4 times. Each dancer usually dances with the 'bundle' extended to the sky. They dance clockwise. At the end of that 4th circle, with a ceremonial whoop, they throw their 'bundle' into the fire. The smoke that is created carries all of their VQ prayers up to the Creator. It's a magical moment and lots of whooping and hollering goes on to acknowledge their accomplishment.

The Lakota people sing lots of songs. They have a song to accompany many of the ceremonies and our singers (primarily Ellen and Karla) know a bunch of 'em. It is very fun to hear the pounding of the drum and to be singing out loud these wonderful Lakota songs. My addition to the drumming and singing is to rattle. I have a great rattle. (It was given to me as a birthday gift some years ago.) The rattle is not encouraged in many of the ceremonies (such as Sun Dance) but in my camp, I get to rattle as much as I want! Giggle... And I usually do. As soon as the all of the visioners have danced around the fire and burned their prayer ties and sticks, we clean up the circle and sweat lodge area and then head to the 'kitchen' to begin the Wupala.

More to Come....