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Show Goshute THE UTES at a glance: The bear dance and ute community The Utes say that the Bear Dance came from a bear just emerging from hibernation who encountered a young hunter. The bear told the hunter never to kill bears and described the dance. Performing the dance ensured that the Utes would always be successful hunters. The Bear Dance became a celebration of spring, and a symbol of the importance of Ute community. In the fall, members of Ute bands separated into extend-ed family groups and found places to settle for the winter. The scarcity of food in the winter made maintaining large communities difficult, so Ute family groups spent the season scattered far from other members of their band. The Bear Dance expressed the Utes' joy at being able to return to the larger community. Bears, which live in the mountains of the Utes' homeland, are also alienated from the benefits of community in winter. Many elements of the Bear Dance lend insight into Ute beliefs and values. The dance ground is prepared by creating circular wall of sticks. This wall repre-sents the bear's den. The Utes leave an opening on the eastern section of the wall because the bear likes his den to face east so that the sunlight can warm him. Other symbols of the bear appear throughout the dance. The dancers move to the sound of moraches, notched sticks that are rubbed together. This sound symbolizes a bear growling, the sound of thunder that wakes the bear from hibernation, or the sound of the bear scratching his back on a tree after his long sleep. The sound of the bear sticks opens the dance, and women use a special dance shawl to pick their partners. Men are not allowed to refuse a dance part-ner because it would be considered very rude, and a master of ceremonies, called Cat Man or Moosuch, makes sure that every woman's request for a dance is honored. This custom reflects the matriarchal struc-ture of the Ute household. Traditionally, Ute women were responsible for all household equipment and organization. Though this household power did not translate into political power for women, it did guarantee them social esteem. A woman's choice of partner was important, as couples frequently formed at the Bear Dance. The Bear Dance is an important social occasion in the Ute year, but all Ute dances and songs hold deep cultural meanings. Dancing represents the connec-tion of the dancer to nature and the forces of life. It is a spiritual experience, and some dances are vital to the celebration of certain spiritual observances. For the Utes, to dance is to place oneself in harmony with the universal forces. As Utes gathered for the Bear Dance, they also looked forward to sharing great meals together. After making due with the roots, seeds, and dried meats that could be easily stored for the winter, spring was a time to celebrate with fresh foods, including fish, young jack-rabbits, birds, and other fresh meats. Contemporary Utes continue the tradition of the Bear Dance. Though travel is much easier now, the Bear Dance still represents an opportunity to get together with friends and family that live far away. The songs, instruments, and dance moves are the same. People still dress up and celebrate. Some Ute bands now host their Bear Dance celebrations at different times of the year so that people can travel to all the dances. This adaptation to the tradition has helped bring people together more often and strengthened cultural ties. W E S H A L L R E M A I N : U TA H I N D I A N C U R R I C U L U M G U I D E 85 |