Stomp dance
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The Stomp Dance is performed by the various Southeastern tribes and Native American communities, including the Cherokee, Creeks and Seminoles. Active Stomp Dance communities still exist in North Carolina, Oklahoma, Alabama and Florida. One such community meets at the Stokes Stomp Dance Ground which is located in an isolated area of the Cherokee Nation tribal lands. Other grounds include, Hossossv Tvlvhvse Ceremonial Ground on the Poarch Creek Indian Reservation near Atmore, Alabama, the White Oak Shawnee grounds and various other Creek and Seminole grounds in Oklahoma and Florida.
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[edit] Structure and Function of a Stomp Dance Society
The Stomp Dance is a ceremony that contains both religious and social meaning. To the Creeks, Cherokees and other Southeastern Indians the Stomp Dance is affiliated with the Green Corn Ceremony.
The term "Stomp Dance" is an English term which refers to the 'shuffle and stomp' movements of the dance. In the native Muskogee language the dance is called Opvnkv Haco, which can mean 'drunken,' 'crazy,' or 'inspirited' dance. This usually refers to the exciting, yet meditative effect the Dance and the medicine have on the participants.
The Stomp Dance Grounds contain an elevated square platform with the flat edges of the square facing the cardinal directions. Arbors are constructed upon the flat edges of the square in which the men sit facing one of the four directions. This is formally referred to as the Square Ground, which is encircled by a ring-mound of earth. In the center of this is the ceremonial fire, which is referred to by many names including 'Grandfather' fire. Ceremonially, this fire is the focus of the songs and prayers of the people and is considered to be a living sacred being.
Outside of the circle of earth, surrounding the Square Ground are the community's clan-houses. These houses are casually referred to as 'camps' and depending on the traditional level and financial situation of the community may be relatively nice cottages, shanties or in between. Prior to the dance dinner is prepared in these family camps. Throughout the night guests that arrive are welcomed to help eat up the leftovers. The foods eaten at Stomp Dances are typical southern delicacies such as corn bread, mashed potatoes as well as certain specialized Indian dishes such as sofkee, dumplings, hominy, frybread, and numerous traditional dishes.
The dress of most Stomp Dancers is casual but nice. Most Stomp Dancers keep special attire for ceremonial occasions, but the physical nature of the dance and summerly, outdoor conditions of the dance make comfort more important than flair. Women wear skirts and blouses that usually incorporate traditional patterns. The women wear turtle shell shakers, or shackles on both legs (typically 13 or less on each leg). The shakers are hollowed out shells which have holes drilled in them and are filled with rocks, shot, soda can lids or anything else that will make them rattle. The Traditional Creek and Seminole shell shakers are made of terrapin or box-turtle shells. Following the Trail of Tears terrapin shells were harder to come by and the impoverished Creeks had to resort to using condensed milk cans instead. This tradition continues today and most women start out with a set of "cans" before moving up to having their own set of shells. The men wear blue jeans or slacks and hats which are usually cowboy or ballcap styles, usually with a single eagle, hawk or crane feather in the hat band. The ribbon shirt is the standard ceremonial attire for both men and women, which consists of a loose-fitted tunic decorated with ribbons.
[edit] Leadership
A traditional Stomp Dance grounds is often headed by a male elder. In the Creek and Seminole traditions the Meko or "king" is the primary ceremonial authority. The Meko is assisted by his second in charge called a Heniha, the chief medicine man called a Hillis Hiya and speaker called Meko Tvlvswv or Meko's tongue/speaker. It is important to note that Meko's are not supposed to publicly address the entire grounds and as such that responsibility falls often on Meko Tvlvswsv. A traditional Creek grounds also employs four Tvstvnvkes (warchiefs/generals/police), four head ladies and four alternate head ladies.
[edit] Ceremony
The chief speaker calls the people to the dance for each round in the Native language. Every dance must have at least one woman to carry the rhythm. The order of the dancers is male-female-male-female in a continuous spiral or circle with young children and the odd numbers trailing at the end. The song is led by a lead man who has developed his own song on the mulitude of variations of stomp dance songs. The songs are typically performed in call and response form. The dancers circle the fire in counter-clockwise direction with slow, stomping steps set to the rhythm created by the women stomping with their shell shakers. As the dance progresses, as many as several hundred people may join the circle. The dance continues until at least four rounds or four songs are completed by the dance leader. At this point, the dance concludes until the next leader is called out to sing. There is normally a 2-5 minute break between leaders. Participants who are making a religious commitment of the ceremony will begin fasting after midnight and "touch medicine" at four different times over night. The medicine is made from specific roots and plants which have been ceremonially gathered by selected "medicine helpers" and prepared by the Hillis Hiya at dawn of the morning of the Dance. This medicine is intended for the physical and spiritual benefit of the members of the dance at the ceremonial ground.
The dance frequently continues throughout the entire night until dawn of the next day. The Stomp Dance is not meant to be a grueling and physically challenging event but almost every participant on the grounds will dance most of the night.
[edit] Connection with Ancient Dance Forms
The Stomp Dance is related to the ancient dances of the Southeastern Ceremonial Complex, sometimes referred to as the Southern Cult.
During the yo Stomp Dance, at various rounds in the dance, one of the ancient Ah-ni-ku-ta-ni dances called the Running Dance does emerge. In this variation, the dancers do not form a spiral into the water, but form a snaking, sinuous line of people that haphazardly circles the fire. This is a variation of a more traditional social dance performed during the Green Corn Ceremony and is the only element of the Stomp Dance that resembles the ancient running dance, which was the final social dance performed during a traditional Green Corn ceremony.
[edit] Secular Stomp Dance
During the off season Stomp Dances are performed indoors to avoid the winter cold. Some societies incorporate Stomp Dance into their pow-wow or cultural reenactment groups and perform them only as secular expressions of Native American tradition.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Cherokee Nation Cultural Resource Center, Tahlequah, Oklahoma.
- Cherokee, ISBN 1-55868-603-7, Graphic Arts Center Publishing
- Writings and History of the Ah-ni-ku-ta-ni, central archives, Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Ah-ni-ya-wi-ya Religious Organization. HCR 64 Box 816, Grassy MO 63751
- Ah-ni-yv-wi-ya Newsletters, Ah-ni-ya-wi-ya Religious Organization. HCR 64 Box 816, Grassy MO 63751
- 13 Moons On the Turtles Back. A Native American Year of Moons, ISBN 0-698-11584-8, Putnam and Grossnet Group, 1997
- "The origins of the redbird smith movement" Graduate thesis by Robert K. Thomas.
- Lewis and Jordan, Creek Indian Medicine Ways, University of New Mexico, Albuqueque, 2002
- Howard and Lena, Oklahoma Seminoles, Medicines, Magic and Religion, University of Oklahoma, Norman, 1984
- Hudson, Charles, The Southeastern Indians, University of Tennessee, 1976
- Wright, Jr., J. Leitch, Creeks and Seminoles, University of Nebraska, 1986
- Weisman, Brent Richards, Unconquered People—Florida’s Seminole and Miccosukee Indians, University Press of Florida, 1999
- Martin and Mauldin, A Dictionary of Creek, University of Nebraska, Lincoln and London, 2000
