This is a peculiar dance given in honor of one or more strangers whom the tribe may decide to welcome to their village. The musicians as well as spectators, out of respect, all rise to their feet while it is being performed. The song which accompanies it is at first one of lament, but ends in a gay and lively manner.
The War Dance
The most exciting as well as the longest and most tiresome of all dances. It is usually divided into three parts, i. e., Eh-Ros-Ka—The Warriors Dance—usually given after a party had returned from war as a boast and was ofttimes given as an amusement. The song used at this time entitled Wa-Sissica—The War Song—appeared to be addressed to the body of an enemy, from the name Eh-Ros-Ka, meaning tribe, war party or body.[43]
Approaching Dance
The most spirited part of this greatest of all dances was called the Approaching Dance in which the dancers by their gestures exhibited the methods of advancing on an enemy. The song in this portion is also similar to that above mentioned.[44]
The Eagle Dance
Ha Kon-E-Crase, or as more familiarly known “the soaring eagle,” forms the third and most pleasing part of the War Dance and is in every respect a most interesting spectacle. Each dancer imagines himself a bird on the wing, and as they dance forward from behind the musicians, they take the position of an eagle headed against the wind and about to swoop down upon some unsuspecting prey. They have a peculiar method of singing and whistling at the same time.[45]
The Calumet Dance, the Ball-Play Dance, the Scalp Dance, the Buffalo Dance, and the Bear Dance, are all important but vary very slightly from those of similar import among other tribes of the same family. What we have said about the dances applies with equal force to the songs and music. The War Song, Death Song, Wolf Song, Medicine Song, Bread Song, and Farewell Song are all of much significance, indeed so much so that a large amount of space could well be devoted to this subject as well as to the dances.
In 1836 the Iowa were assigned a reservation in northeastern Kansas, having two years previous, ceded all their lands in Missouri. A portion of the tribe later moved to another tract in Oklahoma allotted to them in 1890 in severalty, the surplus acreage being opened to settlement by the whites.