The Ghost Dance was a significant late 19th-century religious movement that swept through numerous Native American communities in the Western United States. Originating from the Paiute tribe in Nevada in 1889, this spiritual phenomenon offered a message of hope and renewal during a period of immense hardship and cultural disruption. Founded upon the prophecies of Wovoka, also known as Jack Wilson, the Ghost Dance promised a future free from white oppression, a return to traditional ways of life, and the restoration of ancestral lands and prosperity.
Wovoka’s prophecy envisioned an end to white expansion and a revitalization of Native American culture. He preached that through righteous living, peaceful coexistence with white people, diligent work, and the dedicated performance of the Ghost Dance, believers could hasten the arrival of this new era. Central to this belief system was the promise of reuniting with deceased relatives and a return to a time of abundance, symbolized by the plentiful bison herds of the pre-reservation era.
The Ghost Dance ritual itself was characterized by a four-day circular dance. Leaders often used eagle-wing fans to induce trance-like states among the dancers. These trance experiences were a crucial element of the Ghost Dance, as they were believed to transport participants to the spirit world. In these visions, dancers would encounter departed loved ones living in a blissful state, reinforcing the hope and promise of the prophecy.
The movement rapidly spread eastward to the Great Plains, reaching Oklahoma Territory by April 1890. The first Ghost Dance in Oklahoma was held at Watonga, marking the beginning of its widespread adoption among tribes in the region. The emphasis on traditional ways spurred a revival of many earlier Native American dances and customs. A significant gathering occurred in September 1890, when approximately three thousand individuals from various tribes, including Cheyenne, Arapaho, Kiowa, Wichita, Caddo, and Apache, congregated along the South Canadian River. They engaged in nightly Ghost Dances for two weeks, demonstrating the movement’s powerful appeal and intertribal reach.
The tragic Wounded Knee Massacre in South Dakota in December 1890, where U.S. soldiers killed numerous Lakota Ghost Dancers, cast a shadow over the movement. However, in Oklahoma Territory, the Ghost Dance persisted. Commissioner of Indian Affairs Thomas J. Morgan visited the area and, observing the peaceful nature of the dances in Oklahoma, decided against prohibiting them. Consequently, the Ghost Dance continued in Oklahoma, uninterrupted, until at least 1914, demonstrating its deep roots and enduring significance for the region’s Native American communities.
During the years 1891 and 1892, the Ghost Dance further expanded its reach to tribes such as the Pawnee, Otoe-Missouria, Iowa, Osage, and Quapaw. Each tribe adapted the dance and songs to reflect their own unique visions and traditions. This period witnessed a resurgence of traditional clothing, weapons, dances, and hand games, highlighting the Ghost Dance’s role in cultural revitalization. The intertribal nature of the movement is further evidenced by instances like the 1892 telegram from Commissioner of Indian Affairs Robert V. Belt, ordering Cherokee participants in a Kiowa Ghost Dance to leave, underscoring the widespread participation across different tribal affiliations.
Perhaps the most enduring legacy of the Ghost Dance in Oklahoma lies in its profound contribution to the state’s rich American Indian heritage. This religious movement served as a vital catalyst for the revival of ancient traditions and the creation of new musical expressions. At a time when forced assimilation and reservation life threatened to extinguish Native American religion and culture, the Ghost Dance provided a powerful impetus for cultural resilience and the preservation of Native music. It stands as a testament to the enduring spirit and adaptive capacity of Native American cultures in the face of immense challenges.
See Also
AMERICAN INDIANS, AMERICAN INDIANS AND CHRISTIANITY, NATIVE AMERICAN CHURCH, RELIGION
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Donald N. Brown, “The Ghost Dance Religion Among the Oklahoma Cheyenne,” The Chronicles of Oklahoma 30 (Winter 1952–53).
Alexander Lesser, The Pawnee Ghost Dance Hand Game: Ghost Dance Revival and Ethnic Identity (Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 1978).
Gloria A. Young, “Intertribal Religious Movements,” in Handbook of North American Indians, Vol. 13, Plains, ed. Raymond J. DeMallie (Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution, 2001).
Citation
Gloria A. Young, “Ghost Dance,” The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry?entry=GH001.
Published January 15, 2010
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