It is the women who are in the Medicine Lodge, singing and praying who support the Dancers. Women have certain obligations! The women must wear a dress and a shawl, when sitting on the left side (drum side) of the Medicine Lodge and to bring a prayer brush (willows) to sing. 

But before the Sun Dance they have to refrain from cohabitating with their companion, (if he’s a participant of the Sun Dance) a month before and a month after Sun Dance. Women cannot be around the Inner Circle, (the one that has the Medicine Lodge within) if they are pregnant, menstruating, nursing, or who have had a child within two months of the Sun Dance. 

Women cannot wear any type of revealing clothing; tank, tube or halter tops, shorts, sundresses or any jewelry. Mirrored sunglasses, perfumes, hairsprays, perfumed lotions, suntan oil or lotion, face powder or talcum powder or anything else with a strong smell such as soaps, deodorants, etc., are also inappropriate. Please bathe before you go to the Sun Dance as the dancers have a sharper sense of smell! 

Women also need to supervise their children as they are a distraction to the dancers when they run around and play within the Inner Circle. Do not let them near the drums, the tipi or the outdoor privy near the Lodge. That privy is for the dancers only! Also do not let the children play near the fire. Actually, small children should stay at the camp or at home with a babysitter. 

In this modern day leave your stereos, radio, tape recorders, and camcorders at home. Turn your car radio off when you enter the Sun Dance Circle. No gum-chewing or hard candies are allowed within the Inner Circle and definitely no food, liquids, alcohol or drugs. 

No metal chairs or anything that will reflect the sun should be taken into the Lodge.  

Women sit on the left side only. Do not ever touch the drum or any man within the Medicine Lodge or any of the dancers. Women cannot even touch a Sun Dancer’s clothing or other items except when they are being made. 

Women need to bring fresh mint leaves, sage, tobacco, and willows (all to be cut by hand) to the dancers, but to enter when the drumming has stopped and ask the doorman to go up and call the dancer. Everyone needs to wait until the drum stops to enter and to keep the doorway open. Never block the doorway. No loud talking, arguing or laughing in the Lodge as this is a sacred place and must be revered as such; respect, honor and dignity always. Women who want to fast need to stay in the camp area as a protection for themselves from outside contamination. 

This is what every female over the age of twelve has always known if she is from a Sun Dance family. As we have gotten away from our traditions, this is just a reminder of what a woman has to do for the Sun Dance and is not intended as belittlement, but rather as a lesson for everyone; to protect the dancers, singers, police officers, cooks, fireman, and all the participants. To keep the Sun Dance a strong blessing for all people. The Sun Dance is not a three- or four-day ceremony, but rather a Sacred Way of Life for all. 

When you enter the Medicine Lodge, shed your hate, purge your heart of all bad things, for hate is the sickness of the Spirit, poison to the Soul. The way of the Great Spirit is love, peace and harmony. Many seek Him, not all find Him. With pure heart and soul, the Great Spirit will touch you and uplift you to soar with him like an eagle. We are all one with the Great Spirit. 

 

Submitted to the Drum by Leonora Burch