Tavibo
Tavibo was a notable figure in the spiritual landscape of Native American history, specifically as a follower and assistant to the shaman Wodziwob. He was involved in a series of prophetic visions during the 1860s that foretold the destruction of White people through various natural catastrophes, with variations suggesting the survival and resurrection of Indigenous peoples. These visions significantly influenced the spiritual beliefs of several Indigenous communities, including the Bannock, Shoshone, and Ute. Over time, Tavibo was often conflated with Wodziwob himself, reflecting their intertwined legacies. His son, Wovoka, expanded on these prophecies, leading to the creation of the Ghost Dance movement in the 1890s, which sought to renew traditional shamanistic practices. Wovoka's vision during a solar eclipse prompted a widespread religious revival, positioning him as a messianic figure among many tribes. The Ghost Dance movement, rooted in Tavibo’s and Wodziwob's teachings, spread across the western United States, carrying significant cultural and spiritual implications for Indigenous peoples during a tumultuous period in their history.
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Tavibo
- Born: c. 1810
- Birthplace: Mason Valley (in present-day Nevada)
- Died: c. 1870
- Place of death: Unknown (probably in present-day Nevada)
Tribal affiliation: Paiute
Significance: Tavibo's son, Wovoka, was a shaman who founded the Ghost Dance religious movement in the 1890s.
Tavibo was a follower of Wodziwob, a shaman who may have participated in several American Indian wars, including the Pyramid Lake War (1860), the Owens Valley War (1863), and the Bannock War (1875). For several decades, Tavibo was thought to be the same person as Wodziwob.
Tavibo was a follower and assistant of the shaman Wodziwob, who received a series of visions in the 1860s prophesying the destruction of White people. The first of these visions proclaimed a natural catastrophe which would destroy all White people but spare the Indigenous population. A second vision modified the first: An earthquake would kill all people, but Indigenous people would be resurrected. In a third vision, only the followers of Wodziwob would be resurrected. Wodziwob's influence spread to neighboring Bannock, Shoshone, and Ute communities. His prophecies formed the basis for the Ghost Dance religion of the 1890s, created by Tavibo’s son, Wovoka. In 1889, during an eclipse of the sun, Wovoka received a vision of God calling him to renew traditional shamanism teachings, and he went on to echo and further refine Wodziwob’s visions through his incarnation of the Ghost Dance religious movement. The Ghost Dance spread from Nevada throughout the western part of the country, and Wovoka was viewed as a new messiah among many tribes.
Bibliography
"Ghost Dance." Britannica , 20 Sept. 2023, www.britannica.com/topic/Ghost-Dance. Accessed 18 Oct. 2023.
Hittman, Michael, and Don Lynch. Wovoka and the Ghost Dance. University of Nebraska, 1997.
"Wovoka's Message: The Promise of the Ghost Dance." The West, PBS, www.pbs.org/kenburns/the-west/wovokas-message. Accessed 18 Oct. 2023.