Whenever the Tribe Assembles

This is one of several songs recorded by Densmore honoring Ptesáŋ núŋpa wíŋ ́(Two White Buffalo).

Two White Buffalo was, in fact, Frances Densmore.

Red Fox adopted Densmore in place of his deceased daughter, as was his right.

According to Densmore, Red Fox was a man who was highly respected in the tribe, and his songs were widely sung.

The adoption of Densmore by Red Fox solved the cultural issue of the male singers working with an unmarried white woman.

She was now a relative, a position she exploited to further her studies.

Red Fox announced his intentions to adopt Densmore at the end of the council meetings in the summer of 1911. The adoption was formalized when Densmore returned to Standing Rock in the summer of 1912 at the Fourth of July Celebration in Bullhead, South Dakota.

“My adoption into the tribe will be of the greatest help in this study as it is widely understood that I am entitled to anything which a member of the tribe is entitled to … old men would not hold back anything from me.”

— Frances Densmore, from Travels with Frances Densmore by Michelle Wick Patterson

“A thousand Indians gathered at Grand River, South Dakota, on the Fourth of July, 1912, when I was present, and my adoption was ratified by Red Fox's band. Songs were sung in my honor.”

— Frances Densmore, from A Memorial Volume by Charles Hoffman