Thanksgiving Day

A Jicarilla feast march

"The fields, or more properly speaking, the patches of corn were quickly ripening, thanks to the arduous efforts of [(Medicine Man)

    1.  Didhin
    2.  Didhinn
    3.  Didhini
    4.  Godihi]

Wakadahme and his wonderful Arrow [C'aa'ist'anni], and the whole tribe was waiting impatiently the time when the signal should announce that the Feast-of-the-Green-Corn [ Go - dii-dha and\or Go- di-dhii] was about to commence. Next to fighting, your Indian likes eating; about one half of his time is employed in catering to the cravings of his stomach. When not engaged in fighting his enemies [the Siksika (Blackfeet) and the Apsaroke (Crow)], or marauding in the vicinity of the Mexican

     1.  [Naid-Le'e (Spanish People,
         People Who-were)

     2.  Naid-Lehi (Spanish People,
         People Who-were)

     3.  Nacai-Ye (Spanish People, Mexican People, People-From-Cloth)]

border-towns,

     Nacai-Ye Settlements
     --------------------

     Goshch      = Womb
     Goz'aa      = Room

     Goshtl'ish  = Mud

     Nil and Dil = plural
     Jaa         = less

     Kih         = a Building

     Kih Goshnil = Mud Buildings or a Village
     Kih Goshdil = Mud Buildings or a Village
     Kih Goznil  = Mud Buildings or a Village
     Kih Gozdil  = Mud Buildings or a Village

     Kih Goshjaa = less Mud Buildings or a small Village

he occupies his energies in the hunt or chase."

"As before stated, the Apaches [ Ndee {Dead-People (by 1883 Current Era (C.A.)), Apache-People}

      1.  Ned-ne
      2.  In-ned-ne
      3.  In-ned-e
      4.  In-net-e
      5.  In-deh

and Ndaa' {Alive-People (before 1883 C.E.)}

      1.  In-ned-na
      2.  In-ned-a
      3.  In-net-a
      4.  In-dah]

(`The Living') before 1883 Current Era (C.E.)] always made the most extensive preparations for the [Go-jii-ya] Feast-of-the-Green-Corn; and it was looked forward to with the most eager anticipations."

"Several weeks before the corn had fairly ripened, the head Chief [Nant'an and\or Nantan] and [Diyin] medicine men met in conclave, and decided on what measures were to be pursued during the festivities. In most instances, a few of the older women

          [1.  Assanutliji
           2.  Esdzanadlehe
           3.  Isdzan
           4.  Isdzanhi
           5.  Isdzane
           6.  Istsanadlehe
           7.  Istun-e-glesh
           8.  Iszanyese]

of the tribe were selected, and appointed to watch the patches of corn attentively. Every morning they were required to pick a few ears of corn, and without dividing the husk, bring it to the Didhini [Nant'an] chief, Eeh-tohk-pah-shee-pee-shah [Black Moccasin], who would examine it, and if it was not deemed sufficiently ripe, they would be dismissed with an injunction to appear again on the following morning, with another handful of freshly gathered corn. This performance was continued until the samples examined were considered to have arrived at a stage of sufficient ripeness, when the fact was announced by criers, who went through the village

     Ndaa'\Ndee Settlements
     ----------------------

     Gotah         = Camp
     Gowa          = Teepees
     Gowa Dahitane = New Moon Teepees or Camp
     Gowa Dahitaa  = New Moon Teepees or Camp
     Gowa Goshjaa  = less Teepee Rooms or a Small Village
     Gowa Goznil   = Teepee Rooms or a Village
     Gowa Gozdil   = Teepee Rooms or a Village

proclaiming the joyful intelligence."

"For several days previous to the announcement of this gratifying news, the [ Indah ] Apaches , had subjected themselves to a thorough purgation, using for this purpose a decoction of various bitter roots and herbs, which they termed asceola ( the black drink ). This course of treatment enabled them to attack the corn with ravenous appetites, and to gorge themselves until they could scarcely move."

"On the appointed day they are all assembled, and in the center of the lodge a kettle is hung over a fire , and filled with the coveted grain. This is well boiled, and offered to The Great Spirit [Ihidnan] as a sacrifice. This is an imperative ceremony, and must be performed before any one can indulge the cravings of his appetite. During the time that the cauldron is boiling, four Nant'an and mystery men dance around the steaming kettle. They are painted with white clay, and in one hand they hold a stalk of corn, while with the other they grasp a rattle. As they move around the fire , they chant a wierd song of thanksgiving, taking particular pains to remind [Ihidnan] The Great Spirit that they are doing all this in his honor, and restraining their appetites that he may be pleased, and propitiated, to the extent of furnishing them with a bountiful supply during the ensuing season."

"Whilst the Didhin are performing in this manner, a number of others form in a circle, outside of the inner one, and with stalks of corn in each hand, go through a somewhat similar ceremony. Wooden bowls are placed on the ground immediately under a tripod, formed by joining together three poles, of about twelve feet in length, which are also ornamented with ears of corn. In each of the bowls is placed a spoon, made of the horn of the buffalo, or mountain sheep, in which the feast is to be served. The dance is continued until the Nant'an decide the corn is sufficiently boiled; when, at a given signal, the dance is stopped for a few minutes, and again resumed, this time to a different tune. Then the master of ceremonies removes the smoking vegetable and places it upon a small scaffold of sticks, which they erect over the fire."

"Having done this, the first fire is removed, and the ashes are gathered and buried. A new fire is then made in the place occupied by the old one. The new [ fire ] is started by a very painful process."

"Three men seat themselves on the ground, facing each other, and procuring a hard block of wood, commence drilling violently with a stick, by rolling it between the palms of the hand. Each one catches it in turn from the other, without allowing the motion to stop, until smoke, and at last, a spark of fire is seen, and caught in a piece of punk, whereat there is great rejoicing among the bystanders. When this fire is kindled, the kettle is again placed over the fire, and refilled with the vegetable."

"Now the feast begins, an onslaught is made on the contents of the pot, and the Indah rush off in all directions to devour the corn. Soon fires are blazing in every lodge, and all are indulging in the grossest gluttony. This feast lasts until the corn is exhausted, or becomes too hard to eat with any degree of comfort. When an Indian has gorged himself to the fullest capacity, he has recourse to his asceola, and is soon in a condition to recommence with as much vigor as at first."

"Isdzan watching the races on their annual ceremonial or feast day. It will be observed that they are all dressed uniformly in garments cut after the primitive mode." Curtis S. Edward, 1868-1952

"These scenes filled me with disgust, and I often thought how happy those brutes would be if they were only endowed with the wonderful attributes of that little sea monster, the polyp, who, when his body is cut in half, suffers no inconveniences, but gormandizes instead of remaining in his stomach, passes out at the other end; thus allowing him to indulge in the pleasure of gluttony, without the inconvenience of being gorged."

-- SEVEN AND NINE YEARS AMONG THE CAMANCHES
-- AND APACHES: AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY , 1873, Edwin Eastman


*** GJC ****
** Eochaidh **

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