Dancing to Bring the Rain The History and Cultural Significance of Native American Rain Dances
While traditions and dances vary between Native American tribes, many of them feature rain dances. Because water is essential to life, and because many tribes lived in agrarian societies, these dances were important rituals, pleas for the survival of the tribe for another season. These dances have existed for hundreds of years, and many tribes still perform them today. means water is scarce and every bit of rainfall is essential for survival. Generally, rain dances are performed to ask the spirits or gods to send rain for the crops. Tribes such as the Hopi, Navajo, Pueblo, and Mojave perform rain dances often. An old Cherokee legend says that the rain is filled with the spirits of past chiefs, and the rain is an indication of their battle with evil spirits beyond the natural world. One interesting fact about rain dances is that both men and women — not just men — participate in the ceremony. Rain dances are notably common in the Southwestern U.S., where the dry climate Until the day we’re all using “Star Trek”-style teleporters, we will have to deal with car accidents. Here’s a checklist to help you protect yourself and your case after a car accident. 1. Stop your car and don’t leave the scene of the accident. Running away from an accident will only make the situation worse. 2. Make sure everyone involved in the accident is okay. If anyone in your car or the other car(s) is in need of immediate help, direct a specific person to call 911. 3. Call the police and wait. We’ve seen countless cases where one driver claims they’re in a hurry, writes down their information, and then leaves the scene, or they may claim that calling the police isn’t necessary. You want a police report for your case, so insist that all parties wait for the police to arrive.
Dancers wear special regalia, sometimes including headdresses, masks, body paints, and jewelry. What is worn varies from tribe to tribe, but turquoise is very important in rain dances for many tribes and is often incorporated into the jewelry. The rain dance regalia is not worn at any other point or for any other purpose during the year, and participants dance in a zigzag pattern, unlike all other dances, which feature a circular motion. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, when the U.S. government was relocating Native Americans all over the country, they banned the practice of many ceremonial dances on reservations, sometimes including rain dances. However, rain dances continued undercover: Native Americans simply performed the ritual as a different, unbanned ceremony. The dances and the traditions continued, and today many tribes still perform rain dances, even if only in reverence for their heritage. 4. Protect the scene. If you can put out road flares around the accident, do so. If you need to move the cars, record the state of the accident first. Use your phone to take pictures of the position of both cars, damage to the vehicles, and any debris on the road. 5. Get accurate information from the other drivers. Don’t let any other drivers leave before you get their: • Name • Driver’s license number • Insurance information • Contact number • Information about their car 6. Don’t make any admissions to the other driver. Even if you think you might be at-fault, you don’t know the whole story. Don’t say something that can be used against you later. 7. Report the accident to your insurance company. It’s no fun to call your insurance company, but you don’t want to let any time pass after an accident before you take action.
Car Accident Checklist 9 Steps to Protect Yourself After an Accident
8. Seek appropriate medical attention. Even if you don’t feel hurt, it’s smart to get checked out by your doctor or chiropractor after an accident. Some injuries take time to become apparent. 9. Call The Moak Law Firm at 480-755- 8000. Get an experienced car accident attorney on your side so you can enjoy the best possible outcome after an accident. During the stress of an accident, it’s still easy to forget an important step to help your case, even if everyone walks away unharmed. Cut out this list and store it in your glove compartment so if you ever need to act fast after an accident, you’ll be ready.
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