West by Southwest Ernie Bulow

APACHE MOUNTAIN APACHE MOUNTAIN SPIRITS DANCE SPIRITS DANCE

This dance of the Apaches started out life in the Anglo world as the Apache Devil Dance. Probably an Apache tried to explain what the dance was for and the part that stuck was it’s use in controlling evil spirits. Evil spirits become devils, and the black masks help to foster that idea.

Then they were told is was more properly the Crown Dance because of the saguaro stick headdresses. That wasn’t exactly right, so the name was changed

to Mountain Spirits Dance. While it was nicer, it still smacked of devils in Anglo minds. Today it is called the properly applied Ghan Dance, though that is not nearly as evocative as the Devil or Crown variations. The Eastern

Apaches call them Gaa’he.

As masked entities they are in the same class as

Pueblo Katsinas, or Navajo Yeis.

The man in the costume “becomes” the spirit, or personification of a certain power.

These spirits protect the People from illness, famine, drought, and other formidable dangers. They also protect people on a personal level.

Since Navajos and Apaches are essentially the same people, it is not surprising they share deities in common, including White Shell woman’s children, the monster slayers who made it safe for

THIS SPECTACULAR GROUP OF APACHE DEVIL DANCERS HAS A BOY CLOWN.

THESE GUYS SHOW OFF THEIR SWORDS.

Ernie Bulow

West by Southwest

by Ernie Bulow

behavior, teaching what one ought not to be. The sins are universal: gluttony, greed, lust, selfishness, and bad behavior in general.

In other words what the clown does, his erratic behavior, is the opposite of proper social interaction and behavior. There is also the aspect of preparing the community for disaster of many kinds, directing the individual to behave for the sake of the group.

The clown is the fifth member of the team and his mask is painted white. He usually has a much smaller crown or none at all. This personage is often impersonated by a boy, making him rather smaller than the others.

Outsiders seeing the Ghan Dance for the first time—or the tenth—will probably not know what the meaning

THIS EARLY GROUP IS COSTUMED JUST ALIKE. human beings on this earth.

There are four principles, black masked with an elaborate “crown” on their heads. The actual configuration of the headdress is determined by the dancers themselves. It is created using the ribs of the giant saguaro cactus.

Their bodies are painted black, with symbols of lighting and other celestial objects in contrasting white. It is harder for Anglos to understand the role of the “clown.” Like the Mudheads and similar figures,

APACHE DANCERS PARADE THROUGH GALLUP they may be funny, say and do silly things, sometimes rather bawdy, but they are powerful and dangerous. They bring joy and peace to the People, but their clowning mocks abnormal of the dance is, but it is pleasing because of the appearance of these strange creatures, and their prancing, wheeling, bending and bobbing. The fanciful crowns and wands they carry in their hands, all make this a real crowd pleaser. It has been part of Gallup Ceremonial from the beginning, and it is still performed every year.

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Gallup McKinley County Schools will provide the opportunity for families to pick up breakfast and lunch meals for their children at 24 different schools. Meals will be served March 23-March 27, and March 30-April 3, 2020. Breakfast Time: 8:30-9:30 AM/ Lunch Time 11:00AM-1:00 PM. Information will be updated if circumstances change. Please visit www.gmcs.org for up-to-date information.

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