Dance for a New Millenium

Section 5 Dance For a New Millemiun Chapter 9

Tonight, the last night of 1999, and in my tiny corner of the world, there are people dancing barefoot in the plush grass, holding hands, dancing round and round in a circle, singing softly, and praying good wishes for every person on the planet.

After the Massacre at Wounded Knee, on reservations all across the country, the shamans continued to lead dances, offering their people hope and spiritual guidance. They are no longer allowed to call it the Ghost Dance. They choose to no longer mention Wovoka.

Black Coyote added another title to his jobs as both shaman and sheriff. Black Coyote becomes a grandfather and then a great grandfather. He teaches all his children’s children and anybody else who will listen the Circle Dance.

I watch the television where the Native American dancers are gathered at the race track, giving and receiving blessings for the new millennium. The Native American dancers invite the television newsman to join them. They tell him, “Once you dance the circle dance, you become friends for life with whoever’s hand you grasp.” The newsman comments that it is one of the most beautiful and peaceful of the millennium celebrations anywhere on the planet but politely declines their offer to dance, nervously adjusting his neck tie.