Britannica
Sources used in this answer
- Indigenous peoples of the Great Plains - Syncretism , assimilation, and self-determination
- Indigenous peoples of the Great Basin - Modern developments
- Native American - Religious freedom
- Northwest Coast Indian - Cultural continuity and change
- Native American music - Indigenous trends from 1800
- Native American dance - Northeast and Southeast Indians
How did U.S. and Canadian government suppression affect traditional Native dances?
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Native American dance
Aztec round dance for Quetzalcóatl and Xolotl (a dog-headed god who is Quetzalcóatl's companion), detail from a facsimile Codex Borbonicus (folio 26), c. 1520; original in the Chamber of Deputies, Paris, France.
Government suppression of traditional Native American dances was a deliberate component of broader assimilationist policies in both the United States and Canada, aimed at replacing Indigenous cultures with Euro-American ways of life. Authorities often rationalized these bans by claiming that specific ceremonies were dangerous, harmful to the public good, or forms of torture.1234
Key impacts of this suppression included:
- Legal Prohibitions: In Canada, the potlatch was banned by an 1884 amendment to the Indian Act and remained illegal until 1951. In the United States, the Bureau of Indian Affairs criminalized the Sun Dance and other rituals in 1883, a prohibition that was renewed in 1904 and not officially reversed until the 1930s.34
- Religious Persecution: The Ghost Dance was specifically targeted due to government fears that it would incite resistance, contributing to the 1890 massacre at Wounded Knee.12
- Persistence and Revival: Despite these harsh measures, many communities continued to practice their traditions in secret. By the late 20th century, legislative shifts—such as the U.S. American Indian Religious Freedom Act (1978)—helped remove bureaucratic obstacles, allowing for a strong resurgence of traditional dance and the growth of the powwow as a central cultural celebration.453