The+Sun+Dance

The Sun Dance

__ Introduction: __ The Sun Dance is one of the most important ceremonies for many North American tribes. The Sun Dance is performed by the Great Plains tribes, but the dance varies from tribe to tribe in both meaning and practice (Simkin). All of the tribes hold their Sun Dance once a year in the summer months.

__ History of the Sun Dance: __ Native American tribes have been practicing Sun Dances for many generations. Each tribe has its own story as to the origins of this dance. For many tribes the Sun Dance requires an offering of flesh which is obtained through self-torture. European settlers considered the Sun Dance and its ritual self-torture to be barbaric (Mooney). For this reason, and as an attempt to assimilate tribes, in the late 1800s the United States government as well as the Canadian government outlawed the Sun Dance and other Native American ceremonies. This of course forced the Sun Dance underground. It wasn’t until 1934 with the passing of the Indian Religious Freedom and Indian Culture Act that Native Americans in the United States could hold a Sun Dance publicly (Young).

__ Lakota Sun Dance: __ The Lakota Sun Dance takes place at a 28 day ceremony in which the last 4 days are dedicated to dancing. The main Sun Dancers are required to be invited to dance and spend one year preparing themselves for the dance. The day before the actual Sun Dance is to be performed a cottonwood tree is selected and cut down to be placed in the center of the dance. A bundle of brush, buffalo hide, and long straws containing tobacco was also placed at the top of the selected tree as an offering (The Sun Dance). The next day the dance begins. Dancers move in a clockwise direction with men towards the inside of the circle and women to the outside. For the three days of the dance no food or drink is consumed other than sage tea. On the third day the heyoka (backwards people) dance to lift the moral of the dancers by attempting to make them laugh. Heyoka are typically dressed in black and white and dance counterclockwise. The third day is also when piercing occurs. Medicine Men insert pegs into the dancers’ (who were selected and volunteered) chest, back, or both. A rope that is attached to the cottonwood tree is then tied to the pegs. The dancers then pull back as hard as they can while moving around the tree until their flesh rips from their body (Bachran). The Lakota practice self-torture in their Sun Dance to give a sacrifice to the Great Spirit.

In the Lakota Tribe the Sun Dance functions to pass down knowledge and beliefs to the younger generation through the oral tradition. The teachings in this dance are based on sacrifice and giving. The core concept of the dance is that everything in this world is connected and how we treat each other is important because of that. It teaches young tribe members how live their life morally and spiritually (Hallowell). Ronan Hallowell in his article about the Lakota Sun Dance and the oral tradition said, “Three lessons that I believe would be useful for mainstream Americans to learn that emerge from the Sun Dance are: real family values, an affinity for the land, and the realization that gross materialism and greed lead to social and ecological decay.”

__ Arapaho Sun Dance: __ The Arapaho Sun Dance ceremony lasts seven days with the last four days being dedicated to dancing around the Sun Dance Pole (Sacred Rituals). The Arapaho Sun Dance is similar to the Lakota Sun Dance, but the Arapaho require their dancers to stare at the sun while dancing with their skin pierced attaching them to the Sun Dance Pole. If the dancer doesn’t show signs of pain they will be rewarded with a vision from the Great Spirit (Information on the Arapaho).

For the Arapaho the Sun Dance represents life-renewal and gives individuals the opportunity to pray for assistance from the Great Spirit (Fowler).

In 1938 the Southern Arapaho stopped organizing Sun Dances (Fowler). Since then the tribe must travel to Wyoming for the ceremony because in the 30’s the keeper of the sacred wheel died without passing it on to a successor. This has caused a considerable amount of tension within the tribe as some members want to hold Sun Dances while others believe that they have lost their right to hold a Sun Dance forever (Robinson).

__ Blackfoot Sun Dance: __ The Blackfoot tribe would start their Sun Dance by putting a pole in the center of a circle and hanging offerings from the pole. The central pole was then surrounded by ten more poles to create the circle. Only a few men were chosen to dance and these men would fast and pray before dancing. The Blackfoot tribe also practices skin piercing like the Lakota and Arapaho. To end the dance the dancers had to pull back until their skin broke (Plains Indians).

The Blackfoot tribe dance to honor the Sun God, not the sun itself. They believe that fasting and praying during the Sun Dance would help them lead better lives and be more kind to others ( Nabokov).

__ Cheyenne Sun Dance: __ The Cheyenne perform their Sun Dance ceremony in the summer after the sacred arrow renewal. They hold Sun Dances to pray for increased resources and is a renewal ceremony. The dancers are men who paint their bodies and fast while dancing for four days. In order for new dancers to participate they must be initiated by an instructor who has danced at least four times (Young).

__ Ponca Sun Dance: __ The Ponca Sun Dance is held for four days when the corn is in silk in the mid-summer. It is similar to the Lakota dance in that a newly cut tree is placed in the center of a partially enclosed arbor. A thunderbird nest is placed on the top of the tree. The dancers would stare at the nest while dancing around the pole with the skin on their chest pierced with pegs. The dancers also paint their bodies yellow and carry a wreath of sage in their right hands (Young). As with the other tribes who pierce their skin the Ponca dance around the pole while pulling back until the pegs rip from their chests.

__ Kiowa Sun Dance: __ The Kiowa held Sun Dances to pray for the restocking of the bison on the Plains and also to pray for the well being of their tribe. The Kiowa placed a buffalo skull on top of their Sun Dance pole to pray for the replenishment of the buffalo. The men who danced were first required to receive a vision which instructed them to pledge to dance. The Kiowa tribe also practiced self-torture in the form of piercing the skin of the dancers. The ultimate goal of the Kiowa Sun Dancers was to become unconscious so they could receive a vision from the Great Spirit (Young).

__ Shoshoni, Ute, & Crow Sun Dance: __ The Wind River Shoshoni Sun Dance has been integrated into both the Ute and Crow tribes, so the dances today are very similar (Voget). Like many of the other Sun Dance ceremonies the Shoshoni, Ute, and Crow tribes practice self-torture by attaching pierced skin to the Sun Dance pole.

For the Shoshoni tribes the Sun Dance lodge represents the Earth, the sun represents the Great Spirit, and there are offerings made to Mother Earth (Shoshone-Northern Ute). These symbols represent that all things in this world are connected.

For these tribes today the Sun Dance functions to bring the tribe together to thank the Great Spirit for the last year and to pray for the year to come (Shoshone-Northern Ute). Although only a few of the tribe members actually dance in the ceremony they dance to represent the entire tribe. The dancer receives power from the Great Spirit that he could use for himself, but he is meant to share this power with the tribe (Smith).

__ The Sun Dance Today: __ In recent years there has been an increased interest in preserving traditional Native American culture. Because of this Sun Dance ceremonies have gained in popularity (History of the Northern). One Shoshoni tribal elder organizes Sun Dance ceremonies today to bring harmony back to the world as an attempt to mend the broken circle of the native people (LaBeau). Piercing is optional in many tribes’ Sun Dances being held today (Native American Indians). Tribes are very protective of their sacred ceremonies. In the past they were banned from performing ceremonies because outsiders didn’t understand or approve of them. It is for this reason that some tribes forbid outsiders to be spectators at their Sun Dance ceremonies. Some tribes allow outsiders to come in to watch but they have very strict rules that no photographs, pictures, video, or notes be taken of the ceremony (Sacred Rituals).

__ Video: __ Below is a link to a youtube video that shows images of traditional and contemporary Sun Dance ceremonies. [|Sun Dance Video]

Annotated Webliography  Bachran, Daoine, and Dustyn Medicine Wolf. "The Lakota Sundance Ceremony." __Angelfire__. 27 Feb. 2001. 08 Apr. 2011 <[]>.  This website was published by two Native Americans. This website describes various aspects of Lakota and Native American culture from their history, stories, and artwork. I find this source to be fairly credible despite its .com address.  Fowler, Loretta. "ARAPAHO, SOUTHERN." __Oklahoma Historical Society's Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History & Culture__. Oklahoma State University. 08 Apr. 2011 < [] >.  This website is published by Oklahoma State University and the Oklahoma Historical Society. This article describes the history of the Southern Arapaho tribe. As this website is maintained by a state university it is very credible.

 "Google Images." __Google__. 13 Apr. 2011 <[]>.  This is a picture of an Arapaho Sun Dance.   "Google Images." __Google__. 13 Apr. 2011 <[]>.  This is an image of a Lakota Sun Dance from the late 1960's.   "Google Images." __Google__. 13 Apr. 2011 []  This is a picture of the self-torture that is practiced in some Sun Dance ceremonies.  HALLOWELL, RONAN. "TIME-BINDING IN THE LAKOTA SUN DANCE: ORAL TRADITION AND GENERATIONAL WISDOM." //ETC: A Review of General Semantics// 67.1 (2010): 85-93. //Academic Search Elite//. EBSCO. Web. 5 Apr. 2011. This article is peer reviewed and was published in a scholarly journal. The author Ronan Hallowell has spent many years studying and participating in sun dance festivals.  "History of the Northern Arapaho Tribe." __The Arapaho Project__. University of Colorado Boulder. 08 Apr. 2011 <[]>.  The Arapaho Project is sponsored by Colorado University. This site contains information about the history of the Northern Arapaho tribe. The Sun Dance is mentioned briefly. This is a very credible website because it is maintained by a state university.  <span style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"> "Information On The Arapaho Indian Culture." __Essortment Your Source for Knowledge__. 08 Apr. 2011 < [] >. <span style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;"> This website contains a variety of information on numerous topics including science, health, education, and etcetera. This article gives information about the Arapaho tribe as a whole. Because this is a .com website its credibility is questionable. <span style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;"> <span style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"> LeBeau, Bennie. "Heart of the Rose Sundance Ceremony." __Teton-Rainbows__. 12 Apr. 2011 < [] >. <span style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;"> This website is about a Shoshone tribal elder Bennie LeBeau. Bennie LeBeau foretells prophecies and holds ceremonies to repair Mother Earth. This article gives information about a Shoshone Sundance that was held in 2004. <span style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; line-height: 24pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -0.5in;"> <span style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"> Mooney, James. "Mandan Indians." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 9. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. 12 Apr. 2011 < [] >. This website contains information on the history of the Catholic faith and missionaries. This article describes the practices of the Mandan tribe and other Plains Indians. <span style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"> Nabokov, Peter, and Blackfoot Tribe Member. "What Harm Is In Our Sun-Dance?" __Native American testimony: a chronicle of Indian-white relations from prophecy to the present, 1492-2000__. New York, NY: Penguin, 1999. 224-25.  <span style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;">// Native American Testimony // is a book that describes Native American historical and contemporary issues through the Native American perspective. This excerpt comes from a member of the Blackfoot tribe who is defending the importance of the Sun Dance. <span style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"> <span style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"> "Native American Folk Lore “The Sun Dance” « TIPI HEAVEN." __TIPI HEAVEN__. 22 June 2009. 05 Apr. 2011 < [] >. <span style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;"> Tipi Heaven is a business in the United Kingdom which rents tipis to campers, corporate retreats, and etcetera. The website contains a lot of information on Native American history and culture. However, since this is a business website the credibility of the information is questionable. <span style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"> <span style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"> "Native American Indian Sun Dance." __Indians-Artifact__. 12 Apr. 2011 < [] >. <span style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;"> This website contains various information about American Indians in both North and South America. This article contains some detailed information about the Sun Dance which is practiced by the Plains Indians. <span style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"> <span style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"> "Plains Indians - the Sun Dance ceremony." __Saskatchewan Schools and School Divisions__. 08 Apr. 2011 < [|http://www.saskschools.ca/~gregory/firstnations/sund.html] >. <span style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;"> This website functions to allow schools in Saskatchewan to publish web pages on the internet. This article describes the Blackfoot tribe Sun Dance ceremony. Since this is a school webpage I would assume that it would be fairly credible. <span style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;"> <span style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"> "The Sun Dance." //Ani Kutani//. Web. 12 Apr. 2011. < [] >. <span style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;"> This website is a Cherokee tribal site. It contains various types of information about their tribe and tribal tradition. This article specifically describes the Sun Dance and the differences between some of the tribes' Sun Dances. <span style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;"> <span style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"> Robinson, Judy Gibbs. "Battle over Sun Dance heats up | NewsOK.com." __NewsOK: Oklahoma News, Sports, Weather, Business, Entertainment & Oklahoma City Photos & Video OKC__. 14 June 2006. 08 Apr. 2011 < [] >. <span style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;"> This article was published by an Oklahoma news paper, NewsOK. This article describes the tensions within the Southern Arapaho tribe concerning the Sun Dance. This article contains multiple quotes and it very credible. <span style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"> <span style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"> "Sacred Rituals- Sun Dance." //The Arapaho Project//. Colorado University Boulder. Web. 05 Apr. 2011. < [] >. <span style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;"> The Arapaho Project is sponsored by Colorado University. This site contains information about the tribe, but offers only general information about the Sun Dance to respect the tribe's wishes. <span style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;"> <span style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"> "Shoshone-Northern Ute Sundance." __NCPC__. Naraya Cultural Preservation Council. 11 Apr. 2011 < [] >. <span style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;"> The Naraya Cultural Preservation Council is a non-profit organization that supports the preservation of Native American Culture. This article describes generally the purpose of the Shoshoni and Northern Ute Sundance ceremony. Since this information comes from a Native American non-profit organization I would assume that the information is credible. <span style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; line-height: 24pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"> <span style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"> Simkin, John. "Sun Dance." __Spartacus Educational - Home Page__. 05 Apr. 2011 < [] >. <span style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;"> The author of this website has written several published history books in the United Kingdom and established this website as a teaching tool. This website contains a vast amount of historical information about both the United States and Europe. This website seems to be credible. <span style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;"> <span style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"> Smith, Michael L. "The Ute Sundance." 1998. 10 Apr. 2011 <[]>. <span style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;"> This website contains information on the tribes that reside in the south west United States. This article describes some of the aspect of the Ute sun dance. The credibility of this website is questionable since it is a .com address. <span style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;"> <span style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"> Voget, Fred W. "The Shoshoni-Crow Sun Dance." __Google Books__. 11 Apr. 2011 < [|http://books.google.com/books?id=ypeg92hfpfkC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false] >. <span style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;"> This book describes the aspects of the Shoshoni-Crow sun dance. The origins of the dance as well as how the dance functions within the Crow tribe. The author of this book compiled about forty years of field work to write this book. <span style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;"> "Wind River Sundance." __Chief Washakie Foundation__. 13 Apr. 2011 <[]>. This website contains pictures of Shoshone Sun Dances held from 1890-1920.

<span style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"> YouTube - Native American - Sun Dance." __YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.__ 12 Apr. 2011 < [] >.  <span style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;"> This is a video that contains pictures as well as some clips from a TV movie that depicts some of the aspects of the Sun Dance.

<span style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"> Young, Gloria A. "SUN DANCE." __Oklahoma Historical Society's Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History & Culture__. Oklahoma State University. 10 Apr. 2011 < [] >. <span style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;"> This website is published by Oklahoma State University and the Oklahoma Historical Society. This article describes the differences in sun dance ceremonies among different plains tribes. As this website is maintained by a state university it is very credible.