Once a year a mourning ceremony took place extending over one week. The first three days saw the preparation of the food and ritual equipment. Wednesday was the most important night for the officiating clan, for it was then that the sacred bundle, containing the holy feathers, was presented to the ceremonial houses On Thursday all of the children born the previous year were named. On Friday eagles were killed by the paha and their feathers were used that afternoon to help in the making of the images of those who had died the years before. Saturday, a special whirling dance was held and that night the people sang and danced until dawn. Just before sunrise the images were carried in a circle dance and finally burned. Sacred shell beads were properly distributed by the kika through the paha and the ceremony was over.
|
