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The Great Plains
Thought to be the first record of a Sundance ceremony, this originates from the Great Plains, with the intention of offering personal sacrifice and replenishing the spirit and connection to nature and earth. -
Interferences
The Canadian Government through the Department of Indian Affairs (now the Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Development Canada) began prosecuting those who participated in Sundances. Interferences from police officers were common and this ceremony altogether was discouraged. -
Assimilation
The Canadian government outlawed any sort of celebration or ritual of which "the wounding or mutilation of the dead or living body of any human or animal forms a part or is a feature." This meant that anyone who engaged, assisted, or encouraged a ceremony were liable to imprisonment. To resolve this issue, Sundance ceremonies became a secret ritual. -
A New Era
Government officials finally dropped the prohibition that was placed on Indigenous rituals, including the Sundance ceremony. -
Bringing it to Light
Colin Low, a filmmaker, studied and captured the Kainai Nation of Alberta for his movie. This film explored the band's connection of culture to environment. Released in the 60's and titled "Circle of the Sun", this movie emulated the importance of this ritual to the Indigenous. It was the first capture of a Sundance ceremony and ultimately began changing people's ideas of the ritual. -
Exploitation
Canadian Lakota nations unanimously passed a new idea, "The Declaration of War Against Exploiters of Lakota Spirituality," during the Lakota Summit V. This was set in place to declare war on those who were exploiting and abusing sacred Indigenous ceremonies. -
Gustafsen Lake Standoff
Efforts were made to continue practicing in a tract of unceded Secwepmemc land, and this lead to the armed confrontation known as the "Gustafsen Lake Standoff." -
Sacredness
The 19th-generation Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe of the Lakota asked that non-Indigenous people refrain from going to Sundance ceremonies. This was due to the fact that this ritual was extremely sacred. He warned that only the Indigenous shall approach the alters, again, as it was a sacred ceremony. -
Current Day
This ceremony is still practiced today by many Indigenous groups. After facing endless amounts of discrimination and assimilation, this ceremony can provide a safeness and comfort for Indigenous peoples. In 2007, a non-profit group, the World Council of Elders set up the International Sundance, which included Indigenous people from across the world. This was used as a way to conduct the sacred ritual as well as educate the public.