The ritual and significance of the Winnebago medicine dance

by Paul Radin

(f) To deliver certain speeches and to perform certain actions that constitute the basic ritual of the ceremony proper. This will be discussed later.

The East Band is known as Tconi mina′ñgera (Those-who-sit-first), Hanⁿp‘ogu homina′ñgere (Where-the-day-comes-from), Wiayephuregi (Where-the-sun-rises). All these terms are used frequently. The duties of the leader are—

1. To assist the ancestor-host in passing upon the eligibility of a candidate.

2. To take part in the following portions of the ceremony proper.

(a) Accompanied by his two assistants, to take part in the brush ritual.

(b) To take charge of the candidate after he has been handed over to him by the ancestor-host.

(c) To shoot the sacred shell into the candidate’s body.

(d) To relate certain of the myths.

(e) To perform the basic ritual.

The North Band is known as Siniwagu mina′ñgera (Where-the-cold-comes-from). The leader has the same duties as those of the East leader. The myths recited are of course different.