Seventh Annual Report Part 55

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Mi-de-we-te-we me-wa-gwi-shak-wa, mi-de-we-ta.

The day is clear; let us have the grand medicine.

[The Mides hand reaches to the sky, and rain falls at places other than upon the Midewign, as shown by rain lines from the end of the curved lines denoting the sky.]

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Me-shak-kwot dung-ke-he, ne-me-gis-sim.

I am the sign that the day will be clear.

[The Mides hand reaches to the sky, as indicated by the short transverse line, and the suns rays diverge in all directions.]

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Sun-gis-ni de-wit-ka-ne, he, wi-no-wo-he-she-wat man-i-do-wi-tshik.

I am the strongest medicine, is what is said of me.

[The speaker compares himself to Makwa Manido, the Bear Spirit.]

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Hwo-ba-mi-de, hwo-ba-mi-de, man-e-do na-wa-gi-zhik.

The spirit in the middle of the sky sees me.

[The upper spot denotes the abode of Kitshi Manido, the line of vision extending to the speaker, shown at a corresponding spot below.]

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Ni-wi-we-wai-a-de hi-me nai-o-na.

I take my sack and touch him.

[The Mide will use his sacred Otter-skin sack to touch the candidate.]

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Man-i-do wi-kan-e, mi-de-yo.

My medicine is the sacred spirit.

[The Mide professes to have received the divine gift from Kitshi Manido; the gifts are seen descending to the hand held up to receive them.]

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Ha-ni-ne ku-me ni-kan-ne?

How do you answer me, my Mide friends?

[This is addressed to the Mide priests (Nikani) present, and is an inquiry as to their willingness to proceed. The Midewign is shown, the line running horizontally through it the path of the candidate (or one who has gone through), the two spots within the place of the sacred stone and the post, while the spot to the right of the outside of the inclosure denotes the beginning, or the sweat-lodge, symbolizing the circle of the earth upon the Mide chart (Pl. III), those upon the left denoting the three possible degrees of advancement in the future.]

Upon the conclusion of the song there is a brief interval, during which all partake of a smoke in perfect silence, making the usual offerings to the four points of the compa.s.s, to Kitshi Manido, and toward the earth.

The preceptor then says:

Mis-sai-a-shi-gwa, mis-sa-a-shi-gwa- non-do-nung; ka-ki-n Now is the time, now is the time he hears us; all of us

ka-kin-n-gi-non-do-dag-u-nan ga-o-shi-dot mi-de-wi-win.

he hears us all the one who made the midewiwin.

After this monologue he continues, and addresses to the candidate the mide gagikwewin, or Mide sermon, in the following language, viz:

An-be-bi-sin-di-wi-shin, wa-i-ni-nan; now listen to me what I am about to say to you;

kesh-pin-pe-sin-da-nin-win da-ma-dzhi shka If you take heed of that which I say to you shall continue

ke-bi-m-di-si-win. Un, nun-gum, ke-za-ki-gi-zi-ton mon always your life. Now, to-day I make known to you

ki-tshi man-i-do o-dik-kid-do-win; o-wi-dosh kid-di-nin the great spirit That which he says; and now this I say to you.

ki-i-kid-doki-tshi man-i-do gi-sa-gi-ig.

This is what says the great spirit that he loves you.

to-wa-bish-ga gi-shtig-wa a-pi-we- It shall be white the sacred object at the time

sa-gi-sit-to-wad o-sa-in-di-kid-do-win When they shall let it be known and this is what I say

e-kid-dodt ki-tshi man-i-do o-gi-din-nin That which he says the great spirit now this I impart to you

mis-s-wa ke-a-ked-de-w wa-ba-ma-tshinni-budt even if they say That they saw him dead

mi--ma tshi-o- nish-gd, ini--m in this place he shall be Raised again in this place

a-pe-ni-nut nin-de kid-do-win min-nik he puts his trust In my heart in this saying the time

kid-da- ki-o-wink. Ka-wi-ka-da-an-na-we-was-si-nan, of the duration Of the world. It shall never fail.

me-e-kid-dodt man-i-do. Nin-ne-dzha-nis That is what he says, the spirit. My child,

ke-un-dzhi be-m-dis si-an.

this shall give you life.

The Mide priests then leave the sweat-lodge and stand upon the outside, while the candidate gathers up in his arms a number of small presents, such as tobacco, handkerchiefs, etc., and goes out of the wigiwam to join the Mide priests. The order of marching to the main entrance of the Midewign is then taken up in the following order: First the candidate, next the preceptor, who in turn is followed by the officiating priests, and such others, and members of his family and relatives as desire. At the door of the Midewign all but one of the priests continue forward and take their stations within the inclosure, the preceptor remaining on one side of the candidate, the Mide priest upon the other, then all march four times around the outside of the inclosure, toward the left or south, during which time drumming is continued within. Upon the completion of the fourth circuit the candidate is placed so as to face the main entrance of the Midewign.

When he is prompted to say:

Man-un-ga-bin-di-ge o-bog-ga-di-nan, o-dai-ye-din.

Let me come in and these I put down my things [gifts].

The presents are then laid upon the ground. The preceptor goes inside, taking with him the gifts deposited by the candidate, and remains standing just within the door and faces the degree post toward the west.

Then the chief officiating priest, who has remained at the side of the candidate, turns toward the latter and in a clear, distinct, and exceedingly impressive manner sings the following chant, addressed to Kitshi Manido whose invisible form is supposed to abide within the Midewigan during such ceremonies, stating that the candidate is presented to receive life (the migis) for which he is suffering, and invoking the divine favor.

Hai ya ha man-i-do, ho, ti-bish-ko-gish-i-gung, he, There is a spirit ho, just as the one above, he,

we-z-ba-mid-mi nin-dzh-nis, esh-i-gan-do-we, he, hwe, now sits with me my child and now I proclaim, he, hwe,

m-a-tshi-bin-de-gan-ni-nan, nos, dzhi-man-i-do, ho, hwo, that I enter you here my father good spirit, ho, hwo,

sha-w-ni-mi-shin, he, hwe, a-shig-wa-bin-de-gan-nok have pity on me, he, hwe now that I enter him here,

g-gwa-da-g-sid wi-bi-m-di-sid, d-bwe-da-wi-shin he that is suffering for life, believe me

dzh-bi-m-di-sid, nos, we-o-sim-in-nan, he, he.

that he shall live, my father, whose child I am, he, he.

The following is the musical notation: