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Disaster
A devastating typhoid fever epidemic struck. -
Introduction
The first Ghost Dance ever performed around the dreamer Wodziwob. -
Wodziwob Died
After creating the religious movement, he died. -
Lakota Sioux adopted practice
Lakota sent tribe members to learn the Ghost Dance from Wovoka. They taught that performing Ghost Dance ceremonies would bring back the dead, return buffalo, and remove the white settlers. This gave hope to the Lakotas because they were suffering from the poor conditions. The Lakotas added white robes with tribal symbols to their ceremonies, which were believed to make them bullet-proof. -
Jack Wilson, aka Wovoka, founded the Second Ghost Dance Movement
Wovoka had assisted Wodziwob. Wovoka was influenced by Christianity. During a solar eclipse, he had a vision of dying, speaking with God in heaven, and being told to teach the ghost dance and tell the message. The message was, if the American Indians coexisted peacefully, had good work ethics, and performed ceremonial dances and songs, then they would be reunited with the dead and white settlers would disappear. -
One Application
Ghost Dance ritual is performed before a battle. -
Widespread
US reported a massive number of Ghost Dances. -
Wounded Knee Massacre
Lakotas practicing Ghost Dance made US Government worried that an uprising would happen. Troops were sent to force Native Americans to stop practicing the Ghost Dance Movement. As punishment, they were to all be disarmed. During the search, a shot was fired, and most of the Lakotas were killed. Estimated 200 Lakotas and 25 US soldiers lay dead. -
Different View
Ethnologist joins in during Ghost Dance and describes the dance as having “ecstatic stages.” -
End of Movement
As American Indians' conditions changed, the Ghost Dance became obsolete, it continued into the 20th century in different forms in a few tribes still. -
First Ghost Dance Event
Tickets are sold to watch the Ghost Dance. -
State Fair Appearance
Ghost Dance is permitted to be performed at a state fair. -
Wounded Knee Incident of 1973
Lakota men and women perform the ghost dance on the site of the Wounded Knee Massacre.