The Sundance is a traditional spiritual ceremony practiced by a number of Indigenous cultures. The ceremony is most commonly associated with the Plains Indians, a category of different tribes who have traditionally lived in the Plains and Prairie regions of Canada and the United States. The Blackfoot peoples are usually considered part of the Plains Indians, and the Sundance is a prominent part of traditional Blackfoot culture.
The Sundance ceremony is large community gathering focused on healing and spiritual renewal, and it is typically held in mid-summer. These aims are achieved through sacrifice and tests of endurance. The exact nature of Sundance ceremonies vary by region and group, and the details of the rituals are often kept secret due to their sacred nature. However, common features of a Sundance ceremony include ritualistic songs and dances, usually accompanied by drumming and the presence of a sacred fire. Participants in the dances usually follow a routine of prayer and fasting before beginning. In some cases, dancers will pierce their skin as part of the dance. While the dance takes place, often over the span of several days, other community members remain nearby and offer prayers in support of the dancers.
In the 1800s, governments in both Canada and the United States often attempted to suppress traditional aspects of Aboriginal culture and religion in order to encourage assimilation to what they perceived as "correct" values and beliefs. As a key spiritual practice, the Sundance ceremony was viewed with suspicion, and government officials would often disrupt or intrude upon the dances. Some aspects of it, such as the ceremonial piercing of the skin, were also banned. It was not until the mid-20th century that legal recognition and protection was finally issued for this ritual. The Canadian government dropped all restrictions on Aboriginal religious rituals in 1951, and the United States Congress passed the American Indian Religious Freedom Act (AIRFA) in 1978.
While this new recognition offered protection for the Sundance as a cultural practice, it also brought the threat of curiosity and the risk of becoming a tourist spectacle. Due to its status as a sacred ritual, the Sundance is usually not photographed or filmed. Instruction on the ritual is given orally by elders in Native languages as a way to preserve the integrity of the practice. However, in the late 1950s, a Canadian filmmaker was permitted to make a documentary including footage of the Sundance ritual. The film, The Circle of the Sun, was released in 1960 and helped to highlight the beauty and history of this ritual to a wider audience.
