HIGH STAR - SUN EAGLE SUN DANCE PROTOCOLS

1) You must ask permission to dance.  

All new or beginning sun dancers are required to present their pipes to the sun dance leader and request to dance. At this time, all reasons, vows, and pledge to pierce or not should be voiced. You will not be turned away unless you are an evil person or you have health or mitigating reasons as to why you cannot dance. If you are a Heyoka, you come as a dancer, not as a Heyoka.

2) All sun dancers must participate in at least one purification lodge daily.

starting on the first day of purification through the last day of the dance. Once the dance begins please keep all sweats to sundancers only. 

3) All sun dancers must state the number of days they are dancing.

If dancing all four days, for the High Star Sun Eagle Dance, one is expected to start with the opening dance on Thursday morning. For three days, one must start with the opening entry on Friday. For two days, one must start with entry on Saturday morning. For one day, start with the entry on Sunday, but finish the dance with all of the other dancers.

4) Anyone going into Inipi (sweat lodge) is expected to wear appropriate clothing in the lodge.

Men must wear shorts or cutoffs. Women must wear dresses or skirts at least to calf and modest tops. Towels are suggested. This also applies to anyone entering the dance circle in support of a dancer who is piercing. Anyone doing so is expected to enter the inipi and cleanse before entering the circle.

5) All dancers are expected to provide their own helpers and support systems during the dance.

For dancers, no water is to be touched from entry of the tree into the dance circle until the dance is ended. You can as a dancer drink Gatorade, powerade, etc., and eat after each day’s dance, but are not allowed water or bathing with water until the whole dance is completed.

6) Sun dancers at HSSE who expect to pierce are asked to pierce just once during this dance.

Women sun dancers who want to pierce need to talk to the leader about method of piercing. Men sun dancers should have eagle bone whistle, rope and skewers(pegs)if piercing, and feathers for sage crown. All sun dancers should provide their own Chanupa, tobacco, prayer ties and flags, and proper dress.

7) Sun dancers should be appropriately dressed during the dance.

This will be discussed during the purification day meetings which will be held at 1:00 PM daily.

8) The issue of men and women on their periods being allowed to dance or not will be openly discussed.

Howard doesn’t have an issue with this but should be asked if an issue does arise with it.  His decision will be final as to whatever is enforced.

9) The main form of piercing allowed will be rope to the tree. 

Feathers on the arms will also be allowed.  Beginning in 2011, there will no longer be any hanging, pulling of skulls, or use of horse in the sun dance circle.

10) This is strictly a sun dance.

Those wanting to do any other type of ceremonies please ask Elvin or Howards for permission. While we truly respect other traditions and ways of beliefs, we are bound to honoring our own for this dance. Please know that we gather around out core beliefs about please and that what we will encourage and enforce. Those wanting to do peyote ceremonies can discuss site locations with Elvin if permission is granted.

11) Any other issues or information that need to be shared will be done at the meetings of each purification day.

This dance will belong to anyone who joins Howard and the vision for peace that was presented at the beginning of this dance.