Image Description: Osage ceremonial pipes (image 1)
Osage War Ceremony: Four Songs of the Xthe’ts’a-ge, Song 3 (La Flesche, pg. 25) (image 2)
Image Description: Osage Peace Ceremony: Opening Ceremony Mon’-shon Wa-thon or Feather Songs, Song 1 (La Flesche, pg. 215)
This document sets out to detail the specific rites and rituals that in sum describe the sacred ceremonies of the people of the Wa-zha’zhe, or the Osage tribe. Part one details the Osage peoples’ Wa-sha’-be A-Thin, or War Ceremony, rituals and songs. Part two details the Osage peoples’ Wa’-wa-thon, or Peace Ceremony, rituals and songs.
After watching the recently released film Killers of the Flower Moon (2023) from the critically acclaimed film director Martin Scorsese, I was inspired to seek out historical records of Osage Nation kept by the U.S. government published around the same time period that the events depicted in the film took place. Given the importance of the Osage Elders' decision to bury their ceremonial pipe at the start of the film, special attention was given to the meaning, purpose and usage of ceremonial pipes while compiling this post.
The author of this report, Francis La Flesche (Omaha), was the first professional Native American ethnologist who worked for the Smithsonian Institution and U.S. Bureau of American Ethnology. Each section is thorough in explaining the various components of sacred rites and La Flesche takes care to center each section of the report around the traditional titles, using verbiage in the Osage language that is translated into English for further comprehension. There is also sheet music to detail both the lyrics and musical composition of various songs, including details as to when specific songs were sung and who within the tribe they were sung by. While this is both an incredibly important resource and piece of recorded history, it is important to note that all authority and autonomy regarding the histories and practices of the Osage people remains within the Osage nation. The only true teaching authority on this subject are the people of the Wa-zha’zhe.
In addition to this combined commentary of purpose and summary of document content, to provide additional cultural context to the images shared here I have included quotes from the bulletin written by La Flesche to provide some additional insight.
Osage ceremonial pipes (image 1)
“The taking up the pipe that lies before you is an act of the gravest responsibility, and he who thus accepts the office of leader should do so with a full knowledge of all that it signifies” (La Flesche, pg.5).
“In May 1911, an Osage Wa’wa’thon pipe (pl. 12, a, b) was secured from Wa-thi’-gthon-in-ge, perhaps the only one in existence. It was, according to Wa-thi’-gthon-in-ge, ceremonially made for Hin-sha’-ton-a or Wa-zha’zhe Wa-da-in-ga at a time when the Osage used to receive annuities of only $3 each from the Government, a period from which the Osage calculate time. This was before 1890” (La Flesche, pg. 253).
“Wa’wa’thon is the term applied by the Osage to the rite incorrectly spoken of by some writers as “the Calumet dance,” or “the Pipe dance.” The meaning of the Osage term is practically the same as that used by the Omaha (Wa’-wan), which is, to sing to or for some one. It is true that there are certain rhythmic movements like dancing in a part of the ceremony, but that does not seem to have been regarded as of sufficient importance to warrant the use of the term dance as a name for the rite. The ceremonies of this rite consist of songs, rituals, and ceremonial forms that set forth its teachings” (La Flesche, pg. 203).
“The vital principle of the Wa’wa’thon rite is the promotion of peace and friendly relations, not only between the various gentes within the tribe, but it has a wider purpose, in that it aims to bring about similar relations between the Osage and other tribes… The Osage people have a profound reverence for the Wa’-wa-tho rite, which has for its object peace, happiness, and the rearing of their ‘little ones' in safety” (La Flesche, pg. 204).
Osage War Ceremony: Four Songs of the Xthe’ts’a-ge, Song 3 (image 2)
Translated text in the image:
“This, my friends, is the lot that has fallen to you and to me, This, my friends, is the lot that has fallen to you and to me, The lot that falls to man, most difficult of all, The lot has fallen to you and to me.” (text repeated once more) (La Flesche, pg. 25)
“Description of Wa-sha’-be A-thin Wa-tsi. The words that compose the title of this ritual mean: Wa-sha’-be, a dark object; A-thi, to possess (as here used also implies to carry the article possessed as a thing of value); wa-tsi, to dance” (La Flesche, pg. 3).
“The Non’-hon-zhin-ga [traditional leader] at once proceeded to select two officers, each one to bear the title of Wa-sha’-be A-thin Wa-zho’-wa’-gthe, a title given to the leaders in certain of the ceremonies… Having selected the Wa-sha’-be A-thin Wa-zho’-wa’-gthe, the Non’-hon-zhin-ga proceed to choose eight Zthe’-ts’a-ge, an ancient title the exact meaning of which is lost. The eight officers form a council to determine the course to be pursued by the war party and they personally give their commands to the man” (La Flesche, pg. 13).
“Song 3 represents the Xthe’-ts’a-ge as encouraging one another to accept bravely the part in life that has fallen to them, the part that belongs to man and is beset with many difficulties. The words themselves do not express the full meaning of the song, but the men who sing it and follow in the paths of danger understand well its burden, for the song refers to dangers to be met, hardships to be endured for the defense of the home, the protection of the woman who builds the house and within it nurtures the little ones upon whom depends the perpetuation of the tribe” (La Flesche, pg. 24-25).
Osage Peace Ceremony: Opening Ceremony Mon’-shon Wa-thon or Feather Songs, Song 1 (image 3)
Text in the image:
“The literal translation of the words does not and can not carry the true meaning of the song, which is really an expression of joy that a ‘little one’, a child of the people, has been found worthy of the tribal honor given through the Wa’-wa-thon rite. The song is addressed to the people saying: ‘I have found among you a ‘little one’, a child who is Hon’-ga’’. This song is sung four times” (La Flesche, pg. 215).
“In this ceremony as practiced by the Omaha, Ponca, and Oto, the ‘little one’ or Hon’-ga typifies peace and innocence, for the child is one incapable of harboring malice. The Hon’-ga also stands for the uninterrupted continuity of the race. In the Osage rite, the latter aspect of the ‘little one’ is given greater prominence” (La Flesche, pg. 217).
Citation:
La Flesche, F. (1939). War ceremony and peace ceremony of the Osage indians. U.S. Government Printing Office. https://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015030746294