Gourd Dance
Gourd Dance is a ceremonial dance with origins in the Kiowa tribe, which has since spread to other Plains Indigenous communities. This dance commemorates a significant Kiowa victory in 1838 against the Arapaho and other foes, marked by the discovery of skunkberry bushes on the battleground. According to tradition, a lost warrior was guided by the song of a red wolf, who taught him the dance that would later be shared with his people. The Gourd Dance features male performers, accompanied by drummers, a whip man, and a director, with participants shaking red-painted gourds that symbolize endurance and bravery. Although the dance faced suppression by reservation authorities in 1890, it was revived by the Kiowa in 1955 as part of Gourd Day celebrations. Today, the Gourd Dance remains an important cultural practice, often performed at summer powwows, particularly in Oklahoma, honoring veterans and fostering community engagement. Participation in the Kiowa Gourd Dance Ceremony is primarily reserved for members of the Kiowa Gourd Dance Society, reflecting its deep cultural significance and role in preserving Indigenous heritage.
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Gourd Dance
- TRIBE AFFECTED: Originated with Kiowa and spread to other Plains Indigenous Americans
- SIGNIFICANCE: Part of a four-day ceremony honoring a Kiowa victory in a major battle
In 1838, the Kiowa defeated the Arapaho and other enemies in a major battle along the Missouri River in Montana. Skunkberry bushes full of red berries covered the battleground. A warrior who became lost after the victory wandered around for days, seeking his people’s encampment. Then he heard music coming from a red wolf, who taught him to dance to a beautiful tune accompanied by a gourd rattle. The wolf told him to take the song back to his people and teach them the dance.
The warrior returned, and in celebration of the victory and the return of the lost comrade, a Gourd Dance Society formed and shook red-painted gourds covered with representations of skunkberry bushes while dancing the dance of the red wolf. Only males performed the dance, which featured the dancers, a drummer, a whip man to keep the dancers moving, and a director who set the pace. Skunkberries were a symbol of endurance and bravery, and the Gourd Dance became part of a four-day festival until it was banned by reservation authorities in 1890. In 1955, the Kiowa brought back the dance as part of a newly established Gourd Day celebration, taking place on the Fourth of July.
In the twenty-first century, the Gourd Dance Ceremony continued to be performed by the Kiowa tribe, although it has also been adopted by other Indigenous American tribes and even some non-Indigenous people. Participation in the Kiowa ceremony, however, was restricted to members of the Kiowa Gourd Dance Society. The Gourd Dance was often performed at summer powwows, especially across Oklahoma. These dances continued to hold cultural significance and honor veterans of previous conflicts. Moreover, Gourd Dances served as a way to engage with the community and for the Kiowa and other tribes to share their culture with younger generations and the public.
Bibliography
"The Gourd Dance." The Wandering Bull, LLC, wanderingbull.com/the-gourd-dance/?srsltid=AfmBOoqsvRl-V4nvMwnGRT0qQmvaKFKbrmIJQFSdd‗3XeAEtfg6IB1Yk. Accessed 26 Sept. 2024.
Yazzie, Bean. "Gourd Dancing Highlighted at the Southern Ute Tribal Fair's Centennial Celebration." Rocky Mountain PBS, 15 Oct. 2022, www.rmpbs.org/blogs/rocky-mountain-pbs/gourd-dance-southern-ute-tribal-fair. Accessed 26 Sept. 2024.