The Mide'wiwin or "Grand Medicine Society" of the Ojibwa Part 14

[Music: 214_1]

Kit'ta-no'do-we man'i-do'wid-ho do, we, he, Kit'ta-no'do-we man'i-do-wid-ho, he, hwe, he, Kit'-ta-no'-do-we man'-i- do'-wid, kit'ta- no'do-we, kit'ta-no'do-wid, man'i-do'-wid, man'i-do'wid-ho, we, hwe, he, Kit'ta-no'dowe' man'ido'wid, ho, he, hwe, he, he, hwe, he.

After this song is ended the drum is handed to one of the members sitting near by, when the fourth and last of the officiating priests says to the candidate, who is now placed upon his knees:

Mis-sa'-a-s.h.i.+'-gwa ki-bo'-gis-se-na-min ts.h.i.+'-ma-mad Now is the time that I hope of you that you shall

bi-ma'-di-si-win, mi-ne'-sid.

take life the bead [mi'gis sh.e.l.l.]

This priest then grasps his Mide' sack as if holding a gun, and, clutching it near the top with the left hand extended, while with the right he clutches it below the middle or near the base, he aims it toward the candidate's left breast and makes a thrust forward toward that target uttering the syllables "ya, ho', ho', ho', ho', ho', ho',"

rapidly, rising to a higher key. He recovers his first position and repeats this movement three times, becoming more and more animated, the last time making a vigorous gesture toward the kneeling man's breast as if shooting him. (See Fig. 15, page 192.) While this is going on, the preceptor and his a.s.sistants place their hands upon the candidate's shoulders and cause his body to tremble.

Then the next Mide', the third of the quartette, goes through a similar series of forward movements and thrusts with his Mide' sack, uttering similar sounds and shooting the sacred mi'gis--life--into the right breast of the candidate, who is agitated still more strongly than before. When the third Mide', the second in order of precedence, goes through similar gestures and pretends to shoot the mi'gis into the candidate's heart, the preceptors a.s.sist him to be violently agitated.

The leading priest now places himself in a threatening att.i.tude and says to the Mide'; "Mi'-dzhi-de'-a-mi-s.h.i.+k'"--"put your helping heart with me"--, when he imitates his predecessors by saying, "ya, ho', ho', ho', ho', ho', ho'," at the fourth time aiming the Mide' sack at the candidate's head, and as the mi'gis is supposed to be shot into it, he falls forward upon the ground, apparently lifeless.

Then the four Mide' priests, the preceptor and the a.s.sistant, lay their Mide' sacks upon his back and after a few moments a mi'gis sh.e.l.l drops from his mouth--where he had been instructed to retain it. The chief Mide' picks up the mi'gis and, holding it between the thumb and index finger of the right hand, extending his arm toward the candidate's mouth says "wa! wa! he he he he," the last syllable being uttered in a high key and rapidly dropped to a low note; then the same words are uttered while the mi'gis is held toward the east, and in regular succession to the south, to the west, to the north, then toward the sky. During this time the candidate has begun to partially revive and endeavor to get upon his knees, but when the Mide' finally places the mi'gis into his mouth again, he instantly falls upon the ground, as before. The Mide'

then take up the sacks, each grasping his own as before, and as they pa.s.s around the inanimate body they touch it at various points, which causes the candidate to "return to life." The chief priest then says to him, "O'mishga'n"--"get up"--which he does; then indicating to the holder of the Mide' drum to bring that to him, he begins tapping and presently sings the following song:

[Music: 216_1]

Mi'-si-ni-en'-di-an Mi'si-ni-en'-di-an Mi'-si-ni-en'-dian, Mi'-si-ni-en'-di-an, Mi'-si-ni-en'-di-an Mi'-si-ni-en'-di-an, Mi'-si-ni-en'-di-an, Mi'-si-ni-en'-di-an Mi'-si-ni-en'-di-an, Ni-kan. Hiu, Hiu, Hiu.

The words of the text signify, "This is what I am, my fellow Mide'; I fear all my fellow Mide'." The last syllables, hiu', are meaningless.

At the conclusion of the song the preceptor prompts the candidate to ask the chief Mide':

Ni-kan' k'ke'-no'-mo', man-dzhi'-an na'-ka-mo'-in.

Colleague instruct me, give me a song.

In response to which the Mide' teaches him the following, which is uttered as a monotonous chant, viz:

We'-go-nen' ge-gwed'-dzhi-me-an', mi-de'-wi-win What are you asking, grand medicine

ke-kwed'-dzhi-me-an'? Ki'-ka-mi'-nin en-da-wen'-da are you asking? I will give you you want me to

ma-wi'-nen mi-de'-wi-win ts.h.i.+-da-si-ne'-ga'-na-win'-da-mon; give you "grand medicine" always take care of;

ki-in'-tshun-di'-ne-ma'-so-win, tsho'-a-wa'-nin di'-se-wan.

you have received it yourself, never forget.

To this the candidate, who is now a member, replies, en, yes, i.e., a.s.sent, fully agreeing with the statement made by the Mide', and adds:

Mi-gwetsh' a-s.h.i.+'-wa-ka-kish'-da-win be-ma'-di-si'-an.

Thanks for giving to me life.

Then the priests begin to look around in search of s.p.a.ces in which to seat themselves, saying:

Mi'-a-s.h.i.+'-gwa ki'-ts.h.i.+-an'-wa-bin-da-man ts.h.i.+-o'-we-na'-bi-an.

Now is the time I look around where we shall be [sit].

and all go to such places as are made, or reserved, for them.

The new member then goes to the pile of blankets, robes, and other gifts and divides them among the four officiating priests, reserving some of less value for the preceptor and his a.s.sistant; whereas tobacco is carried around to each person present. All then make an offering of smoke, to the east, south, west, north, toward the center and top of the Mide'wigan--where Ki'ts.h.i.+ Man'ido presides--and to the earth. Then each person blows smoke upon his or her Mide' sack as an offering to the sacred mi'gis within.

The chief Mide' advances to the new member and presents him with a new Mide' sack, made of an otter skin, or possibly of the skin of the mink or weasel, after which he returns to his place. The new member rises, approaches the chief Mide', who inclines his head to the front, and, while pa.s.sing both flat hands down over either side,

Mi-gwetsh', ni-ka'-ni, ni-ka'-ni, ni-ka'-ni, na-ka'.

Thanks, my colleagues, my colleagues, my colleagues.

Then, approaching the next in rank, he repeats the ceremony and continues to do so until he has made the entire circuit of the Mide'wigan.

At the conclusion of this ceremony of rendering thanks to the members of the society for their presence, the newly elected Mide' returns to his place and, after placing within his Mide' sack his mi'gis, starts out anew to test his own powers. He approaches the person seated nearest the eastern entrance, on the south side, and, grasping his sack in a manner similar to that of the officiating priests, makes threatening motions toward the Mide' as if to shoot him, saying, "ya, ho', ho', ho', ho', ho'," gradually raising his voice to a higher key. At the fourth movement he makes a quick thrust toward his victim, whereupon the latter falls forward upon the ground. He then proceeds to the next, who is menaced in a similar manner and who likewise becomes apparently unconscious from the powerful effects of the mi'gis. This is continued until all persons present have been subjected to the influence of the mi'gis in the possession of the new member. At the third or fourth experiment the first subject revives and sits up, the others recovering in regular order a short time after having been "shot at," as this procedure is termed.

When all of the Mide' have recovered a very curious ceremony takes place. Each one places his mi'gis sh.e.l.l upon the right palm and, grasping the Mide' sack with the left hand, moves around the inclosure and exhibits his mi'gis to everyone present, constantly uttering the word "ho', ho', ho', ho'," in a quick, low tone. During this period there is a mingling of all the persons present, each endeavoring to attract the attention of the others. Each Mide' then pretends to swallow his mi'gis, when suddenly there are sounds of violent coughing, as if the actors were strangling, and soon thereafter they gag and spit out upon the ground the mi'gis, upon which each one falls apparently dead.

In a few moments, however, they recover, take up the little sh.e.l.ls again and pretend to swallow them. As the Mide' return to their respective places the mi'gis is restored to its receptacle in the Mide' sack.

Food is then brought into the Mide'wigan and all partake of it at the expense of the new member.

After the feast, the older Mide' of high order, and possibly the officiating priests, recount the tradition of the Ani's.h.i.+na'beg and the origin of the Mide'wiwin, together with speeches relating to the benefits to be derived through a knowledge thereof, and sometimes, tales of individual success and exploits. When the inspired ones have given utterance to their thoughts and feelings, their memories and their boastings, and the time of adjournment has almost arrived, the new member gives an evidence of his skill as a singer and a Mide'. Having acted upon the suggestion of his preceptor, he has prepared some songs and learned them, and now for the first time the opportunity presents itself for him to gain admirers and influential friends, a sufficient number of whom he will require to speak well of him, and to counteract the evil which will be spoken of him by enemies--for enemies are numerous and may be found chiefly among those who are not fitted for the society of the Mide', or who have failed to attain the desired distinction.

The new member, in the absence of a Mide' drum of his own, borrows one from a fellow Mide' and begins to beat it gently, increasing the strokes in intensity as he feels more and more inspired, then sings a song (Pl. X, D), of which the following are the words, each line being repeated ad libitum, viz:

[Ill.u.s.tration]

We'-nen-wi'-wik ka'-ni-an.

The spirit has made sacred the place in which I live.

[The singer is shown partly within, and partly above his wigwam, the latter being represented by the lines upon either side, and crossing his body.]

[Ill.u.s.tration]

En'-da-yan' pi-ma'-ti-su'-i-un en'-da-yan'.

The spirit gave the "medicine" which we receive.

[The upper inverted crescent is the arch of the sky, the magic influence descending, like rain upon the earth, the latter being shown by the horizontal line at the bottom.]

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Rest.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Nin'-nik-ka'-ni man'-i-do.

I too have taken the medicine he gave us.

[The speaker's arm, covered with mi'gis, or magic influence, reaches toward the sky to receive from Ki'ts.h.i.+ Man'ido the divine favor of a Mide's power.]

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Ke-kek'-o-i-yan'.

I brought life to the people.

[The Thunderer, the one who causes the rains, and consequently life to vegetation, by which the Indian may sustain life.]

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Be-mo'-se ma-ko-yan.

I have come to the medicine lodge also.