What were the millennial beliefs associated with the Ghost Dance movement?

The Ghost Dance movement was a millennial religious movement that emerged among Native Americans in the late 19th century, aiming to revitalize traditional cultures through the promise of a transformative end-time.1

Central to these beliefs was the prophecy that the ancestors of the people would rise from the dead, white colonizers would vanish, and traditional ways of life—including the return of the buffalo and the restoration of ancestral lands—would be realized. This vision was heavily influenced by 19th-century American Christian millennialism, specifically the belief in a coming end-time and a glorious resurrection.231

Prophets like Wovoka taught that these events would be hastened by performing specific ritual dances and songs, as well as by adhering to a moral code that forbade war. While Wovoka’s message was largely pacifist, some followers, particularly among the Sioux, interpreted the movement as a promise of ultimate revenge against American usurpers, leading to increased tensions and the tragic Wounded Knee Massacre.13