Song of the Grass Dance

From Teton Sioux Music by Frances Densmore:

The grass dance was described by Kills at Night, a comparatively young man, who was a prominent singer at the drum. “There is always a feast at a grass dance. The men who have charge of the meeting decide who shall provide the feast, and the Crier notifies them. 

The same people are not asked to provide for two successive feasts. Each ‘cook’ brings what she likes—dried berries or grapes, wild turnips, and sometimes sweet corn, prepared by boiling it with ashes until the husk drops off, then washing it thoroughly and boiling it with a bone which has fat on it.”

The drum is outside the circle of dancers, near that side of the assembly where the men sit. A few women sing with the men at the drum. One feature of this dance is that a lost article must be redeemed with a gift. Thus, if a feather falls to the ground the whole party dance around it, and one of the men goes forward and strikes it, afterwards giving a present to some old man, who is not expected to make any return.

The men dance alone. The women also dance alone, but occasionally summon a few men, whom they call by various terms of relationship, as “brother” or “cousin.” If a woman calls a married man into the dancing circle his wife regards it as an honor. His wife always gives a present to the woman who asked him to dance.

Sometimes a woman, rising, tells the brave deed of some relative, and all the women respond with the high, quavering cry which is their customary applause.”