Priest and Shaman on the Plains: A False Dichotomy?*

Abstract

For a number of years, anthropologists have tended to classify religious leaders of more or less primitive peoples into shamans on the one hand, and priests on the other. Such terms are analytically useful, but like many polarities of their kind, they tend to break down when applied to “real world” situations. The Crow and Northern Cheyenne Indians of Montana provide interesting contrasts in this area, where two powerful religious themes - the tribal Sun Dance and the individual Vision Quest-- interact in various societies to produce a wide range of ceremonial expression. The literature on these two societies combines with modern field observation to suggest that in one case, shamans prevail entirely - while in the other, a real stage of separation between priest and shaman has developed, with one man serving in both capacities at various times.     

George W. Hill’S Account Of The Sioux Sun Dance of 1866

Abstract

There are several published accounts of the Sioux Sun Dance. Most are those of the Oglala division of the Teton Sioux and most occurred rather late in Sioux history. In 1866, Captain George William Hill witnessed and recorded a Sioux Sun Dance published here for the first time. It is an earlier account that most others and is of interest because most of the participants were not from the Oglala division.     

The Meaning of Death in Northern Cheyenne Culture

Abstract

Death is a process in Northern Cheyenne culture, not an event, and the process of death reverses the process of development of the human person. Death marks the end of the association between spiritual self and physical body for human beings, but not the anihilation of the self. The Northern Cheyenne lives in a “great society” in which humans are not the only kind of participant, and deceased tribal members generally retain both tribal membership and personhood. Death, here, is transformation even transmigration and only those who have sinned or who die in a bad way will forfeit their place in the tribal community. Yet even a good death brings intense loneliness to those who remain, and fear of that loneliness is the greatest fear associated with death in the Northern Cheyenne community.     

The Oglala (Teton Dakota) Sun Dance: Vissicitudes of its Structures and Functions

Abstract

The structure and function of the traditional Oglala Dakota Sun Dance is compared with modern versions of the dance performed at Pine Ridge, South Dakota.     

Giving Away: the Ceremonial Distribution of Goods Among the Northern Cheyenne of Southeastern Montana

Abstract

The Northern Cheyenne, like most Plains reservation tribes, frequently hold public distributions of goods called give-aways. Give-aways occur throughout the year in order to honor individual Cheyennes and, through the obligation of reciprocity, intra-tribal and inter-tribal ties are established and maintained. The give-away exchanges and their functions are analyzed utilizing Marshall Sahlins’ typology of primitive exchange.     

The So-Called Sun Dance of the Gros Ventre

Abstract

The so-called Sun Dance of the Gros Ventre was last held in about the year 1884. Informants living in 1967 have preserved in tribal legends an account of the ceremony in general and the last one in particular. One informant was an eye witness when his adopted father went through the self-torture rite. Factors of hardship, declining numbers, enforced attendance of the children at school, introduction of Christiantiy, and the severity of the rites probably all worked to bring an end to the practice of the aboriginal form of this ceremony.     

A Possible Origin for the Cheyenne Sacred Arrow Complex

Abstract

This paper examines known origin myths and describes how the four Sacred Arrows were utilized by the Cheyenne in time of hunger and battle. By combining the existing folklore with an examination of Cheyenne prehistory, a more precise time and geographical point of origin of the whole Cheyenne Sacred Arrow “complex” is developed.     

Cheyenne Soldier Societies

Abstract

There has been considerable ambiguityas to the identity of the Cheyenne soldier societies. This paper examines all known original sources and on the basis of internal evidence, comparatively analyzed, establishes the identity and characteristics of the Cheyenne military societies.     

Stones,Solstices and Sun Dance Structures

Abstract

Eleven boulder configurations in Saskatchewan were examined in 1975 for possible astronomical alignments. Three were found to contain alignments to summer solstice phenomena. Ethnographic interviewing failed to discover any tradition of solstice marking in the historic tribes of the Northwestern Plains, but did suggest that the boulder configurations may have been constructed for the private observations of calendar-keeping shamans. Ethnoarchaeological mapping of a 1975 Sun Dance camp revealed that the ceremonial structures were aligned to sunrise, but whether this was deliberate, and if deliberate, traditional, could not be determined.     

Native American Resistance To Integration: Contemporary Confrontations And Religious Revitalization

Abstract

Most studies dealing with North American Indian integration often focus upon efforts directed at tribal groups by a dominant society in forced acculturation. This paper seeks to examine current trends initiated by tribal groups and members to resist integration. Aspects for consideration include confrontative efforts - Alcatraz, Wounded Knee II, and the “Longest Walk.” The recent efforts of religious revitalization as the Sioux Sun Dance, which forms a part of enhanced efforts toward developing a new “native ethic” in combatting integration and assimilation, will be assessed as an increasing ethnic marker to many Native Americans.     

On Cheyenne Sociopoutical Organization

Abstract

In a recent (1974) article John H. Moore has challenged the validity of earlier ethnologies of the Cheyenne Indians, with respect to their presentation of Cheyenne sociopolitical organization. Moore advances a dialectic model, positing matrilineal, matrilocal uterine bands from which were drawn the Peace Chiefs, who constituted a uterine tribal council. In frequent opposition, were the military societies, which Moore identifies as agnatic units of organization. Viewed historically, power shifted from the “uterine” bands and tribal council to the “agnatic” military societies.     

Evolution And Historical Reductionism

Abstract

In response to Hoebel's criticism (1980) of the use of a dialectical model to interpret Cheyenne history, this article examines Hoebel's own views on kinship, politics, and social change. It is argued that Hoebel confuses descent with residence, and is committed to a methodology which necessarily gives inconclusive results. Most importantly, it is argued that Hoebel's theoretical perspective, characterized as “historical reductionism,” imposes a rigidly normative structure onto a society that was undergoing radical social change in the nineteenth century.     

Spatial and temporal variations in the White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla breeding diet revealed by prey remains

ABSTRACT

Capsule: Despite its population increase, the White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla has not become food-limited, and does not pose a serious threat to birds of conservation concern in the region east of the Baltic Sea.

Aims: We aimed to test variations in the main prey groups and dietary niche breadth of White-tailed Eagles through the years and along an environmental gradient as well as to evaluate the extent of predation on bird species of conservation concern.

Methods: Prey remains were collected during nestling ringing from successful nests located in Lithuania.

Results: The frequency of the prey groups varied along an environmental gradient, with a general pattern of increasing avian prey consumed by pairs breeding in areas with less abundant aquatic habitats. The frequency of alternative prey (i.e. terrestrial birds, mammals) and dietary niche breadth did not increase between 2005 and 2018 and during which time the White-tailed Eagle population nearly doubled. Instead, the occurrence of Northern Pike Esox lucius remains, which was the most frequent single prey species, increased throughout the study period. Bird species of conservation concern constituted only a small fraction of all the prey identified.

Conclusions: The White-tailed Eagle has not become more dependent on alternative prey despite its population increase.     

Recruitment of the type B histone acetyltransferase Hat1p to chromatin is linked to DNA double-strand breaks

Type B histone acetyltransferases are thought to catalyze the acetylation of the NH₂-terminal tails of newly synthesized histones. Although Hat1p has been implicated in cellular processes, such as telomeric silencing and DNA damage repair, the underlying molecular mechanisms by which it functions remain elusive. In an effort to understand how Hat1p is involved in the process of DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair, we examined whether Hat1p is directly recruited to sites of DNA damage. Following induction of the endonuclease HO, which generates a single DNA DSB at the MAT locus, we found that Hat1p becomes associated with chromatin near the site of DNA damage. The nuclear Hat1p-associated histone chaperone Hif1p is also recruited to an HO-induced DSB with a similar distribution. In addition, while the acetylation of all four histone H4 NH₂-terminal tail domain lysine residues is increased following DSB formation, only the acetylation of H4 lysine 12, the primary target of Hat1p activity, is dependent on the presence of Hat1p. Kinetic analysis of Hat1p localization indicates that it is recruited after the phosphorylation of histone H2A S129 and concomitant with the recombinational-repair factor Rad52p. Surprisingly, Hat1p is still recruited to chromatin in strains that cannot repair an HO-induced double-strand break. These results indicate that Hat1p plays a direct role in DNA damage repair and is responsible for specific changes in histone modification that occur during the course of recombinational DNA repair.     

Irradiation with heavy-ion particles changes the cellular distribution of human histone acetyltransferase HAT1

Hat1 was the first histone acetyltransferase identified; however, its biological function is still unclear. In this report, it is shown for the first time that human Hat1 has two isoforms. Isoform a has 418 amino acids (aa) and is localized exclusively in the nuclear matrix of normal human keratinocytes (NHKs). Isoform b has 334 aa and is located in the cytoplasm, the nucleoplasm, attached to the chromatin and to the nuclear matrix. Immunohistochemical analyses revealed that the bulk of Hat1 is confined to the nucleus, with much lesser amounts in the cytoplasm. Cells undergoing mitotic division have an elevated amount of Hat1 compared to those that are non-mitotic. Senescent cells, however, exhibit a higher concentration of Hat1 in the cytoplasm compare to proliferating cells and the amount of Hat1 in the nucleus decreases with the progression of senescence. NHKs exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) or to a beam of high mass and energy ion particles displayed bright nuclear staining for Hat1, a phenotype that was not observed in NHKs exposed to γ-rays. We established that the enhanced nuclear staining for Hat1 in response to these treatments is regulated by the PI3K and the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways. Our observations clearly implicate Hat1 in the cellular response assuring the survival of the treated cells.     

Nelson Lee and the Green Corn Dance: Data Selection Problems with Wallace And Hoebel’S Study Of the Comanches

Abstract

This paper shows that Wallace and Hoebelˊ s erroneous report of a Comanche Green Corn Dance resulted from misuse of source material. Consideration of their methodology suggests that critical reanalysis of the corpus of Comanche ethnohistoric sources might be fruitful     

Design Lesson Number Two

Abstract

The following article was awarded the second-place Reston Prize 1989, sponsored by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, the National Association of Schools of Dance, the National Association of Schools of Music, and the National Association of Schools of Theatre.     

Conformational Analysis of Nucleosides Constructed on a Bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane Template. Structure-Antiviral Activity Analysis for the Northern and Southern Hemispheres of the Pseudorotational Cycle

Abstract

A conformational analysis of carbocyclic nucleosides built on a rigid bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane template (1–4, Northern and 5–8 Southern) showed that the Northern conformation prefers an anti glycosyl torsion angle whereas the Southern conformation favors the syn range. Antiviral activity was mostly associated with the Northern conformers.     

Changes in the fatty acid unsaturation after hardening in wheat chromosome substitution lines with different cold tolerance

Two wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties, Cheyenne (Ch, winter wheat with excellent frost tolerance) and Chinese Spring (CS, spring wheat with weak frost tolerance), and chromosome substitution lines (CS/Ch 5A, CS/Ch 5D, CS/Ch 7A) created from Cheyenne and Chinese Spring were used to study the effect of chromosome substitutions on the membrane lipid composition in the leaves and crowns before and after cold hardening. The percentage of fatty acid unsaturation in phosphatidylethanolamine was greater in the crown of hardened Cheyenne than in Chinese Spring. The value of CS/Ch 5A was similar to Cheyenne and that of CS/Ch 5D to Chinese Spring, while the value of CS/Ch 7A was in between those of Cheyenne and Chinese Spring. A smaller difference was found between the unsaturation level in the phosphatidylcholine from Cheyenne and Chinese Spring after hardening, while the value obtained for the substitution line CS/Ch 7A was similar to Cheyenne. The percentage decrease in thetrans-Δ³-hexadecenoic acid content was found to be correlated with the frost tolerance of the wheat genotypes.     

Exogenous 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and salicylic acid modulate the effect of short-term drought and freezing stress on wheat plants

Exogenous salicylic acid has been shown to confer tolerance against biotic and abiotic stresses. In the present work the ability of its analogue, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid to increase abiotic stress tolerance was demonstrated: it improved the drought tolerance of the winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cv. Cheyenne and the freezing tolerance of the spring wheat cv. Chinese Spring. Salicylic acid, however, reduced the freezing tolerance of Cheyenne and the drought tolerance of Chinese Spring, in spite of an increase in the guaiacol peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase activity. The induction of cross tolerance between drought and freezing stress was observed: drought acclimation increased the freezing tolerance of Cheyenne plants and cold acclimation enhanced the drought tolerance. The induction of drought tolerance in Cheyenne was correlated with an increase in catalase activity.