Wovaka's message at a Cheyenne-Arapaho delegation
Nevada, August 1891
When you get home you must make a dance to continue five days. Dance four successive
nights, and the last night keep us the dance until the morning of the fifth
day, when all must bathe in the river and then disperse to their homes. You
must all do in the same way.
I, Jack Wilson, love you
all, and my heart is full of gladness for the gifts you have brought me. When
you get home I shall give you a good cloud which will make you feel good. I
give you a good spirit and give you all good paint. I want you to come again
in three months, some from each tribe there.
There will be a good deal
of snow this year and some rain. In the fall there will be such a rain as I
have never given you before.
Grandfather says, when your
friends die you must not cry. You must not hurt anybody or do harm to anyone.
You must not fight. Do right always. It will give you satisfaction in life.
This young man has a good father and mother.
Do not tell the white people
about this. Jesus is now upon the earth. He appears like a cloud. The dead are
still alive again. I do not know when they will be here; maybe this fall or
in the spring. When the time comes there will be no more sickness and everyone
will be young again.
Do not refuse to work for
the whites and do not make any trouble with them until you leave them. When
the earth shakes do not be afraid. It will not hurt you.
I want you to dance every six weeks. Make a feast at the dance and have food that everybody may eat. Then bathe in the water. That is all. You will receive good words again from me some time. Do not tell lies.
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