July 26, 2025 • 8 mins
Get enthralled by the vivid and engaging account of a Sioux childs life during the last era of the tribes untamed existence in the 19th century, before the encroachment of civilization. Charles Eastman, born in 1858 in Minnesota, takes you through his exhilarating journey from the lush forests of the land of lakes to the boundless prairies of the Dakota territory. Experience his extensive training in woodcraft, horsemanship, and hunting, and delve into the captivating stories passed down from his elders that formed the core of his tribes oral traditions. Eastman paints an honest picture of the dangers that were part and parcel of such a lifestyle, but also conveys the sheer joy and thrill of the adventures. As you listen, you may find yourself yearning for the freedom to ride across the wild prairie just like young Ohiyesa.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Part eight of Indian Boyhood by Charles Eastman. This LibriVox
recording is in the public domain. The Maidens Feast. There
were many peculiar customs among the Indians of an earlier period,
some of which tended to strengthen the character of the
people and preserve their purity. Perhaps the most unique of
(00:20):
these was the annual feast of the Maidens. The casual
observer would scarcely understand the full force and meaning of
this ceremony. The last one that I ever witnessed was
given at Fort Ellis, Manitoba, about the year eighteen seventy one.
Upon the table land just back of the old trading
post and fully a thousand feet above the Assinebuan River,
(00:41):
surrounded by groves, there was a natural amphitheater. At one
end stood the old fort, where since eighteen thirty the
northern tribes had come to replenish their powder horns and
lead sacks and to dispose of their pelts. In this
spot there was a reunion of all the renegade Sioux
on the one hand, and of the Assinibuans and Crees,
(01:03):
the Canadian tribes on the other. They were friendly. The
matter was not formally arranged, but it was usual for
all the tribes to meet here in the month of July.
The Hudson Bay Company always had a good supply of red, blue, green,
and white blankets, also cloth of brilliant dye, so that
when their summer festival occurred, the Indians did not lack
(01:24):
gaily colored garments. Paints were bought by them at pleasure.
Short sleeves were the fashion in their buckskin dresses, and
beads and porcupine quills were the principal decorations. When circumstances
are favorable, the Indians are the happiest people in the world.
There were entertainments every single day, which everybody had the
(01:46):
fullest opportunity to see and enjoy. If anything, the poorest
profited the most by these occasions, because a feature in
each case was the giving away of savage wealth to
the needy in honor of the event. At any public
affair involving the pride and honor of a prominent family,
there must always be a distribution of valuable presence. One
(02:10):
bright summer morning, while we were still at our meal
of jerked buffalo meat, we heard the herald of the
Wapaton band upon his calico pony as he rode around
our circle. White Eagle's daughter, the maiden Red Star, invites
all the maidens of all the tribes to come and
partake of her feast. It will be in the Wapaton
(02:33):
camp before the sun reaches the middle of the sky.
All pure maidens are invited. Red Star also invites the
young man to be present to see that no unworthy
maiden should join in the feast. The herald soon completed
the rounds of the different camps, and it was not
long before the girls began to gather in great numbers.
(02:54):
The fort was fully alive. To the interest of these
savage entertainments, this particular feast was looked upon as a
semi sacred affair. It would be desecration for any to
attend who was not perfectly virtuous. Hence, it was regarded
as an opportune time for the young men to satisfy
themselves as to who were the virtuous maids of the tribe.
(03:18):
There were apt to be surprises before the end of
the day. Any young man was permitted to challenge any
maiden whom he knew to be unworthy, but woe to
him who could not prove his case, it meant little
short of death to the man who endeavored to disgrace
a woman without cause. The youths had a similar feast
(03:40):
of their own, in which the eligibles were those who
had never spoken to a girl in the way of courtship.
It was considered ridiculous to do so before attaining some
honor as a warrior, and the novices prided themselves greatly
upon their self control. From the various camps. The girls
came singly or in groups, dressed in bright colored calicoes
(04:03):
or in heavily fringed and beaded buckskin. Their smooth cheeks
and the central part of their glossy hair was touched
with vermilion. All brought with them wooden basins to eat from.
Some who came from a considerable distance were mounted upon ponies.
A few for company or novelty's sake, rode double. The
(04:24):
maiden's circle was formed about a cone shaped rock which
stood upon its base. This was painted red. Beside it,
two new arrows were lightly stuck into the ground. This
is a sort of altar to which each maiden comes
before taking her assigned place in the circle, and lightly
touches first the stone and then the arrows. By this oath,
(04:48):
she declares her purity. Whenever a girl approaches the altar,
there is a stir among the spectators, and sometimes a
rude youth would call out, take care, you will overturn
the rock or pull out the arrows. Such a remark
makes the girls nervous, and especially one who is not
(05:09):
sure of her composure. Immediately behind the maidens circle is
the old woman's or chaperone's circle. This second circle is
almost as interesting to look at as the inner one.
The old women watched every movement of their respective charges
with the utmost concern, having previously instructed them how they
should conduct themselves. In any event, there was never a
(05:33):
more gorgeous assembly of the kind than this one. The
day was perfect. The crees, displaying their characteristic horsemanship, came
in groups. The Assinibuans with their curious pompadour well covered
with red paint. The various bands of Sioux all carefully
observed the traditional peculiarities of dress and behavior. The attaches
(05:55):
of the fort were fully represented at the entertainment, and
it was not unusual to see a pale faced maiden
take part in the feast. The whole population of the
region had assembled, and the maidens came shyly into the circle.
The simple ceremonies observed prior to the serving of the
food were in progress when among a group of wapatons
(06:15):
sue young men there was a stir of excitement. All
the maidens glanced nervously toward the scene of the disturbance. Soon,
a tall youth emerged from the throng of spectators and
advanced toward the circle. Every one of the chaperones glared
at him, as if to deter him from his purpose,
but with a steady step, he passed them by and
(06:38):
approached a maiden's circle. At last, he stopped behind a
pretty assineboan maiden of good family, and said, I'm sorry,
but according to custom, you should not be here. The
girl arose in confusion, but she soon recovered her self control.
What do you mean, she demanded indignantly. Three times you
(07:01):
have come to court me, but each time I have
refused to listen to you. I turned my back upon you.
Twice I was with Mashtina. She can tell the people
that this is true. The third time I had gone
for water when you intercepted me and begged me to
stop and listen. I refused because I did not know you.
(07:26):
My chaperone, Maka Tapawi, knows that I was gone but
a few minutes. I never saw you anywhere else. The
young man was unable to answer this unmistakable statement of facts,
and it became apparent that he had sought to revenge
himself for her repulse. Woo Woo. Carry him out was
(07:48):
the order of the Chief of the Indian Police, and
the audacious youth was hurried away into the nearest ravine
to be chastised. The young woman, who had thus established
her name, returned to the circle and the feast was served.
The Maiden's song was sung, and four times they danced
in a ring around the altar. Each maid, as she departed,
(08:12):
once more, took her oath to remain pure until she
should meet her husband. End of Part eight.
Part eight of Indian Boyhood by Charles Eastman. This LibriVox
recording is in the public domain. The Maidens Feast. There
were many peculiar customs among the Indians of an earlier period,
some of which tended to strengthen the character of the
people and preserve their purity. Perhaps the most unique of
(00:20):
these was the annual feast of the Maidens. The casual
observer would scarcely understand the full force and meaning of
this ceremony. The last one that I ever witnessed was
given at Fort Ellis, Manitoba, about the year eighteen seventy one.
Upon the table land just back of the old trading
post and fully a thousand feet above the Assinebuan River,
(00:41):
surrounded by groves, there was a natural amphitheater. At one
end stood the old fort, where since eighteen thirty the
northern tribes had come to replenish their powder horns and
lead sacks and to dispose of their pelts. In this
spot there was a reunion of all the renegade Sioux
on the one hand, and of the Assinibuans and Crees,
(01:03):
the Canadian tribes on the other. They were friendly. The
matter was not formally arranged, but it was usual for
all the tribes to meet here in the month of July.
The Hudson Bay Company always had a good supply of red, blue, green,
and white blankets, also cloth of brilliant dye, so that
when their summer festival occurred, the Indians did not lack
(01:24):
gaily colored garments. Paints were bought by them at pleasure.
Short sleeves were the fashion in their buckskin dresses, and
beads and porcupine quills were the principal decorations. When circumstances
are favorable, the Indians are the happiest people in the world.
There were entertainments every single day, which everybody had the
(01:46):
fullest opportunity to see and enjoy. If anything, the poorest
profited the most by these occasions, because a feature in
each case was the giving away of savage wealth to
the needy in honor of the event. At any public
affair involving the pride and honor of a prominent family,
there must always be a distribution of valuable presence. One
(02:10):
bright summer morning, while we were still at our meal
of jerked buffalo meat, we heard the herald of the
Wapaton band upon his calico pony as he rode around
our circle. White Eagle's daughter, the maiden Red Star, invites
all the maidens of all the tribes to come and
partake of her feast. It will be in the Wapaton
(02:33):
camp before the sun reaches the middle of the sky.
All pure maidens are invited. Red Star also invites the
young man to be present to see that no unworthy
maiden should join in the feast. The herald soon completed
the rounds of the different camps, and it was not
long before the girls began to gather in great numbers.
(02:54):
The fort was fully alive. To the interest of these
savage entertainments, this particular feast was looked upon as a
semi sacred affair. It would be desecration for any to
attend who was not perfectly virtuous. Hence, it was regarded
as an opportune time for the young men to satisfy
themselves as to who were the virtuous maids of the tribe.
(03:18):
There were apt to be surprises before the end of
the day. Any young man was permitted to challenge any
maiden whom he knew to be unworthy, but woe to
him who could not prove his case, it meant little
short of death to the man who endeavored to disgrace
a woman without cause. The youths had a similar feast
(03:40):
of their own, in which the eligibles were those who
had never spoken to a girl in the way of courtship.
It was considered ridiculous to do so before attaining some
honor as a warrior, and the novices prided themselves greatly
upon their self control. From the various camps. The girls
came singly or in groups, dressed in bright colored calicoes
(04:03):
or in heavily fringed and beaded buckskin. Their smooth cheeks
and the central part of their glossy hair was touched
with vermilion. All brought with them wooden basins to eat from.
Some who came from a considerable distance were mounted upon ponies.
A few for company or novelty's sake, rode double. The
(04:24):
maiden's circle was formed about a cone shaped rock which
stood upon its base. This was painted red. Beside it,
two new arrows were lightly stuck into the ground. This
is a sort of altar to which each maiden comes
before taking her assigned place in the circle, and lightly
touches first the stone and then the arrows. By this oath,
(04:48):
she declares her purity. Whenever a girl approaches the altar,
there is a stir among the spectators, and sometimes a
rude youth would call out, take care, you will overturn
the rock or pull out the arrows. Such a remark
makes the girls nervous, and especially one who is not
(05:09):
sure of her composure. Immediately behind the maidens circle is
the old woman's or chaperone's circle. This second circle is
almost as interesting to look at as the inner one.
The old women watched every movement of their respective charges
with the utmost concern, having previously instructed them how they
should conduct themselves. In any event, there was never a
(05:33):
more gorgeous assembly of the kind than this one. The
day was perfect. The crees, displaying their characteristic horsemanship, came
in groups. The Assinibuans with their curious pompadour well covered
with red paint. The various bands of Sioux all carefully
observed the traditional peculiarities of dress and behavior. The attaches
(05:55):
of the fort were fully represented at the entertainment, and
it was not unusual to see a pale faced maiden
take part in the feast. The whole population of the
region had assembled, and the maidens came shyly into the circle.
The simple ceremonies observed prior to the serving of the
food were in progress when among a group of wapatons
(06:15):
sue young men there was a stir of excitement. All
the maidens glanced nervously toward the scene of the disturbance. Soon,
a tall youth emerged from the throng of spectators and
advanced toward the circle. Every one of the chaperones glared
at him, as if to deter him from his purpose,
but with a steady step, he passed them by and
(06:38):
approached a maiden's circle. At last, he stopped behind a
pretty assineboan maiden of good family, and said, I'm sorry,
but according to custom, you should not be here. The
girl arose in confusion, but she soon recovered her self control.
What do you mean, she demanded indignantly. Three times you
(07:01):
have come to court me, but each time I have
refused to listen to you. I turned my back upon you.
Twice I was with Mashtina. She can tell the people
that this is true. The third time I had gone
for water when you intercepted me and begged me to
stop and listen. I refused because I did not know you.
(07:26):
My chaperone, Maka Tapawi, knows that I was gone but
a few minutes. I never saw you anywhere else. The
young man was unable to answer this unmistakable statement of facts,
and it became apparent that he had sought to revenge
himself for her repulse. Woo Woo. Carry him out was
(07:48):
the order of the Chief of the Indian Police, and
the audacious youth was hurried away into the nearest ravine
to be chastised. The young woman, who had thus established
her name, returned to the circle and the feast was served.
The Maiden's song was sung, and four times they danced
in a ring around the altar. Each maid, as she departed,
(08:12):
once more, took her oath to remain pure until she
should meet her husband. End of Part eight.
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