THE WHITE DEER DANCE

THE KAROK MEN WEAR SHELL NECKLACES AND HAD HEADDRESSES THAT SYMBOLIZE DEER ANTLERS.  THEY WEAR WHITE DEERSKINS THAT GAVE IT ITS NAME. PRIESTS AND SHAMANS WERE OTHER RELIGIOUS LEADERS OF THE MEMBERS COUNCIL THEY HAD MUSIC AND DANCING IN A SPECIAL BUILDING, SWEAT HOUSES OR A COMMUNITY DANCE HOUSE.  HERE THEY TRANSMITTED STORIES, SONGS AND DANCES.  THE KAROK MEN USUALLY HAD THESE ACTIVITIES. 

THEY HAD A WORLD RENEWAL CEREMONY THAT TOOK 1000'S OF PEOPLE FROM MANY TRIBES INTO CAME FROM 50 MILES AWAY FROM MANY MILES AWAY.  THEY GAMBLED, SWEATED, AND COMPETED IN ATHLETIC EVENTS, TOLD STORIES, AND ENTERTAINED EACH OTHER.  THESE FOLKS BELIEVED THAT REGULAR REGULAR CEREMONIES NEEDED TO KEEP THESE FORCES IN CHECK - SUCH AS LIGHTENING AND EARTHQUAKES, FIRES, OR ACCIDENTS.  THE CEREMONIES KEPT AND PROTECTED HEALTH OF FOLKS.  THEY REPLENISHED GAME AND ACORNS.  THE CEREMONY COULD LAST TWO WEEKS.  SHAMANS RECITED WORDS OF SPIRITS WHO CREATED THE UNIVERSE.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CEREMONY WAS TO SHOW OFF ELABORATE COSTUMES AND WEALTH AND PROCESSIONS.THEY HAD A JUMPING DANCE WITH COLORFUL HEADBANDS OF WOODPECKER SCALPS.  THE POMO KUKSU WAS A COLLECTION OF HIGHLY SECRET SOCIETIES PRIVATE CLUBS.  THESE FOLKS ORGANIZED THE CEREMONIES AND INSTRUCTION OF CHILDREN.  THIS RELIGION WAS A BELIEF THAT A SPIRIT HAD BEEN SENT BY THE CREATOR TO TEACH PEOPLE.  THE MAIDU HQD A CREATOR STORY .  THEY HAD THEIR BOY GROW UP IN THE MOUNTAINS.  THE MEN INITIATE THE BOYS AND WOMEN INITIATE THE GIRLS. HE OBSERVES SACRED DANCES.  IF YOU WORSHIP ME IN NIGHT AND DAYLIGHT , YOUR TREES WILL BE FULL OF NUTS. AND THE RIVERS WILL BE FULL OF SALMON.
  
IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THEIR THIRD RELIGIOUS SYSTEM EVOLVED AROUND THE USE OF DATURA, JIMSONWEED.  THE USED IT AS A PAINKILLER AND ONLY A SMALL ROOT WAS STEEPED IN WATER.  THE BREW WAS DRUNK. GIRLS AND WOMEN SMOKED ALSO.  IT WAS USED ONLY FOR 1 TO 2 TIMES A YEAR.  IT WAS FATAL IF THEY USED TOO MUCH!  THEIR INITIATION RIGHT WAS A SOCIAL CONDITION TO REINFORCE THE STATUS OF SHAMANS AND INVISIBLE POWERS.

C. KEYWORTH