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Blackfoot Discoveries:
Blackfoot Stories: The Story
of the Sundance
Our summary of the Sundance told by;
Steven, Mackellar & Cody
Long , long ago there lived a
beautiful young lady who was treasured and her father the chief wanted her
to get married. She said that she belonged to the Sun and didn't want to
marry anyone.
There also lived a young orphan man of the same tribe called Scarface who
was so incredibly ugly children ran from him. The only ones who would listen
to him were the old medicine woman and the Sun Maiden. Scarface
eventually fell in love with Sun girl.
Scarface's life was getting so
miserable he decided to go to the Sun to cure his scars and his crooked
back.
On the way he fell asleep by a
pond and dreamt the moon came to him and told him that a path would cross
the water to the sky country. He followed the path until he reached the
Sun's lodge. The Sun cured him of his scared face and crooked back by putting
him in a sweat lodge. The Sun taught Scarface lessons about the power of
the Sun and the light, warmth and healing comes from the Sun. When he returned
to his people the chief's daughter helped him teach the Blackfoot the lessons
and the Sun Dance he had learned from the Sun.
What did we hear in this story that we have heard in other stories?
- The number 4 shows up in
many of the Blackfoot stories. We think that it is a very lucky number.
- There is usually an orphan
in Blackfoot stories and he plays a big role. He is usually poor and
something is wrong with him. He is treated badly and is worthless to
the tribe. By the end of the story the orphan usually changes and becomes
more powerful. He teaches the Blackfoot how to live in balance with
the things around him.
- There is always a lesson
to be learned.
- Animals and nature always
talk, help and teach the Blackfoot how to live.
Why was this story told? We think this story teaches us...
- That we should respect and
honor everything around us.
- That nothing can live without
the Sun. It provides us with heat and food.
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