The camp crier(inform the village of the daily agendas) would call the names of invited guests to someone’s lodge or sometimes a young boy would become messenger. There were also big village events where everyone gathered.
A feast always started with a prayer and the food was also offered to The Great Spirit. The food was held up to the sky and then held down to the ground and placed at the end of the fire then the lodge was swept before eating.
Storytelling was a big part of entertaining and some villagers were renowned for their storytelling skills and were in demand being invited to feasts for entertainment.
Some narrations were like personal property and weren’t allowed to be told by anyone else apart from certain members of the family. Ancestors passed down historical events and legends for the focus of these to be told for generations to come.
The length of the narrative was often split into intervals and often paused for eating or some general conversation or gossip. The statement” I will tie another one to it.” Was referring to the break of the story and with the prospect of it continuing. Once the narrator had finished, if there was anyone else who had something relevant to say they would continue on. Often these events would go well into the night.
There were also stories that were classified as sacred that held importance tothe tribe and were treated in a holy way. These were specifically told at night, tepee flaps were closed and only certain people were invited. Any interruptions, loud noises or commotions were seen as inflicted bad medicine on the tribe.
BEGGING STICKS
These were used when there was as special feast such as certain people or other members of a tribe were visiting, this called for celebration. Young men carried a bundle of sticks and were sent across the village handing out these to women who were expected to provide something unique at the feast. The women were excited and cooked their special dishes, they also presented themselves in a pretty way. These begging sticks were not ordinary plain sticks, some were painted, with feathers. Deerskin and were not one particular size.
