Growing up, I always had an interest in
learning about different cultures, specifically what they believed
traditionally. Furthermore, how could I
share the Gospel knowing the traditional customs. Within the last couple of years, I have come
to know about the Sun Dance, and been trying to figure out a story by which I
can share Jesus. Technically, there is
no longer a Blackfeet version of the Sun Dance; they have adopted the Sioux
version for generations.
The Sun Dance, as was explained to me a
couple years ago, is a dance done, primarily by men. Precluding the dance, the man who will be
completing the dance must make a series of vows and fulfill them, that they may
be pure enough to dance the Sun Dance.
Once the vows have been fulfilled, the man can dance. The arrangement of the dance is a middle pole
connected to several surrounding poles.
Two ropes with bone piercings hang from the middle pole; the man is then
pierced through the chest and is to dance until the piercings are ripped out
(if a woman takes part in it, she is pierced through the back-shoulder muscles). Considered a very sacred ceremony, it is
considered uncultured to take any pictures or video of a Sundance. The significance of the middle pole is its representation
to connect with the Creator, and thus, to dance is to connect oneself with the
maker of all things.
So…my brain started swarming with
ideas…how do I share about Christ and what He has done, knowing one of the
traditions? The following is a
“traditional” story of Jesus’ salvation retold, retelling the purpose of the Sundance. Some parts and names of the story are
substituted to fit a traditional style, but I hope that it can give a little
picture of what the Gospels relay in the life of Jesus. My hope in this is not to offend any of my
Native friends, especially those who are traditional. And I do not wish to
offend seasoned Christians in how the story is told. My hope is that all people
of all nations may know that Christ came to die for them, and that they may
fully know the Creator God and all that He is. I am reminded of Hebrews 10:1-18, as I wrote this, and if there was a question I would ask a traditionalist after reading this story, it would be, "If you knew Jesus fulfilled the purpose of the Sun Dance, would you still feel compelled to complete the dance yourself?" With that, here is my story….
Long
ago, the Creator existed and made the world.
He spoke it into being…the land, the water, the animals all were formed
with a word of His mouth. The Creator
then walked upon the earth, grabbed the dirt and formed the first man. He breathed His own life into him and was
pleased. Thus, began the race of
men. First Man and First Woman had a strong connection with Creator, and would walk with Him in the cool of every day.
As time went on, Coyote, who is
known as the trickster, introduced himself to First Man and First Woman. He questioned the things Creator had directed
man to do. He deceived them, and
convinced them to do things as they desired, rather than what Creator wanted
for them. In result, the connection that
First Man and First Woman had with the Creator became broken. They, nor their children, nor the children of
their children’s children, could walk with the Creator freely anymore. Their lives were shortened. The earth, too, felt death.
But Creator was heartbroken. He
did not like to be separated from His creation.
He was angry at Coyote for tricking His children. So, He directed specific traditions and
customs for the people to follow. He
also created a Sun Dance so that First Man and First Woman’s children could be
connected with Him. The setting for the dance included a middle pole surrounded
by twelve poles, all connected with an open roof. Two ropes would hang from the middle pole,
with bones. The bones pierce the man’s chest, and the man must dance until the
piercings rip from his chest. The man
who will dance the Sun Dance would have to complete several purification
vows. This is to be a sacred dance, and
any man (or woman) who does not purify himself before completing the dance will
be in object with the Creator, for not taking to heart the holiness of who He
is. And so, anyone who dances must be
pure when coming to connect with the Creator.
This was the custom as directed; and this was the custom that continued
through the generations. It has been
practiced and continues to be practiced to this day.
Several snows ago; the white man states 2,000, a boy named Walks Low to the Earth came to this world. He walked upon this
earth and was just and good. He treated
all the people in His tribe with kindness.
He was from a humble home, and yet as Walks Low to the Earth grew, He did not act as
other men. Where others were drawn away
from the customs of the Creator by Coyote’s words, He refused each and every
time. Walks Low to the Earth performed
miracles. Where there was sickness, He
touched, and they were healed. Where the crippled laid, He met them and they
walked. Where the dead slept, He spoke
and their spirits returned to their bodies. Walks Low to the Earth spoke as with an
authority that was not His own. He
challenged the people to think upon the motives, not actions alone, behind the
traditions that Creator set before them. Many sought the company of Walks Low to the Earth. Some for what He could do; others
guarded their hearts, not knowing what He would say.
The time came for a man to be asked to complete a Sun Dance. Walks Low to the Earth readily stepped up. As the elders looked upon Him, they
questioned the reason for it, as according to the purification vows, He had
already proven that He fulfilled them. Walks Low to the Earth said, “I still must do this.”
“But in all that we have seen in you, since you were a child, you have
shown yourself to already be connected with the Creator,” said the elders.
“I still must do it,” replied Walks Low to the Earth. With that, the elders consented, and set a
day for when the Sun Dance would be performed.
Excitement drew near, as the time of the Sun Dance was to be done. But as the nights closed, Walks Low to the Earth became
more weary. His friends became
worried. “Why are you sorrowful,
brother? The Sun Dance is a good thing.
It will be a joyous time.”
“Yes, it will be…for what comes from it,” He said. “Then why are you so sad?” His friends
asked. Walks Low to the Earth could only reply,
“There will be a dark night, before the dawn rises.” His friends only became more confused as they
asked more questions. The animals were
also concerned. They talked amongst
themselves and wondered who would speak with Him. “I will,” said Buffalo. Beaver also wanted to go with him. So, Buffalo and Beaver went to Walks Low to the Earth. “Why are you sad, brother? The Sun
Dance is a good thing.”
“Yes it will be…for what comes from it,” said Walks Low to the Earth. “We do not understand, brother,” Beaver
stated.
The Man plainly stated, “How much blood must be shed before Coyote
has his fill?” Buffalo and Beaver became
confused and left with sad hearts, not knowing what to think or say.
The morning came for Walks Low to the Earth to complete the Sun Dance. He said a silent prayer to Creator, and
walked to the middle pole. The elders
took the bones and pierced His chest.
Walks Low to the Earth danced. He danced and
danced. He continued to dance even when
He should have stopped.
“What is He doing,” the elders asked among themselves, “He is to be done
by now.” One spoke aloud to Him, “You
have fulfilled the Sun Dance!” (They said this, because even though they agreed to let Walks Low to the Earth dance the Sundance, they still quietly believed that He did not need to.) Walks Low to the Earth danced as if He heard nothing.
Another began to mock Him.
“What is He trying to prove? Does
He think He is better than us!?” Still,
Walks Low to the Earth danced. He danced
until His feet no longer were strong, and His arms could no longer carry. The bones did not rip from His chest, and He
hung there, breathing deeply. It was visible
that His life was leaving, and His spirit would be gone, soon. His body bloody, all that poured out from His
wounds was water. With one last sigh,
Walks Low to the Earth breathed His last, and closed His eyes.
His mother walked to Him, put her cheek to His nose to feel His
breath. She screamed, “He is dead!” The elders came over and unhooked the bones
from Walks Low to the Earth's chest. His family
carried His body to a tree and prepared for His burial. They lifted it above the branches, and wrapped it in a buffalo robe.
The entire tribe was in confusion and in mourning. Coyote came to visit, and in a playful grin,
expressed a half-hearted condolence. “Shoo,
Coyote! We are not ready for any of your
tricks. Mourn with us for our brother or
leave!” Coyote left, still smiling.
After the third day of Walks Low to the Earth’s death, eagles were seen flying near
His body. His mother and
friends wondered what sign this might mean.
They ran to Walks Low to the Earth’s body.
But when they came to the place where His body was wrapped, it was not
there. His mother and friends frantically
looked around them. The eagles then
sang, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? Do you see that He is not
here? Go, and tell everyone that He has
risen!”
They ran back to the village, with a wind they never before had felt. In the background, some say they heard the
mournful howl of Coyote. As Walks Low to the Earth's
mother and friends reached the village, they shared the news and the people decided
to make a feast, to share in the good news.
While they sat down, a stranger whose face was covered, asked to sit with
them. “You may come in,” an elder
said. “We are celebrating the life of one
of our friends.” As the stranger sat, he
removed the covering over his face.
“Walks Low to the Earth! It is really
You! You are alive!!!”
“Yes, it is me,” He replied.
“But my name is no longer Walks Low to the Earth.
The Creator gave me a new name, and it is Creator Walks With Us. It is so good to see you.” All the people and
animals sat, ate, and laughed. After a
little while, a boy walked up to Creator Walks With Us, and asked, “Why did you
danced until you died?”
The room became quiet. The boy’s mother shushed him, and motioned
him to leave Creator Walks With Us alone, and apologized for his question. “No, that is okay that he asks. It is good for children to ask and want to
understand. For generations, the Sun
Dance has been done in order for the individual to be connected to the Creator. But I had been born, already connected to
Him. It is true that I did not need to
dance. But I did so…to the point of
death, that My blood would not just bring Myself to the Creator, but all of our
people. And not for this tribe alone,
but for all tribes on the earth. And not
for this generation alone, but for all generations that will come. I died that you may live. I died that you no longer would fall for
Coyote’s tricks and be disconnected from Creator. The One who made you loves you and wants you
to walk with Him. But that could not
happen due to the impurities in man. So
I, who is Creator clothed with skin, came down to earth that I may walk with
you…again. My blood was spilled and
seeped into the earth. New life has been
given. And all who believe in My name
will be able to walk with Me forever.”
To this day, Coyote still runs to and fro
through the earth to deceive First Man’s children. But with Creator Walks With Us’s blood
flowing, and His spirit breathing within us, Coyote’s tricks are not so deceptive. We hold onto the promise that we can live in the heavens with Creator, someday. The Hebrews call Him Emmanuel or Jeshua. In English, His name is translated as Jesus. It is by His name that we believe and are
saved from our sins. It is by Him that
we can walk side by side, with our Creator God.
