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Reveal or Conceal?
Parents sought out their children and gathered them into their arms
momentarily. Their intense pride was unmistakable to all who were
watching.
After a short time, the dancers rose as if a single being and formed
yet another single line, the men leading the women, as was custom-
ary. With measured steps, really hurting now after a brief rest, they
made their way back into the Sundance circle and formed a long, cres-
cent-shaped line facing the eastern gate. The supporters drifted into
the circle, where they formed a receiving line that brought the danc-
ers face to face with grandparents, parents, spouses, siblings, children,
nieces, nephews, and friends. As the spectators filed past, the dancers
solemnly shook hands with strangers, and caressed friends and fam-
ilies with near abandon. Tears flowed freely and without shame in
both the men and the women.
There was little sense of urgency in this final performance. In fact,
it appeared as if no one was anxious to have the ceremony come to
an end. As had the others, I made my way up the line and eventually
reached my friends Gloria and Edna. We laughed and cried as we held
each other, and I exclaimed how proud I was of them and how incred-
ibly strong I thought they were. Surprisingly, they both indicated they
were also proud of me. They exclaimed that I had made it through
my first Sundance and they were now certain that when the time was
right, I would dance. Having witnessed the inconceivable hardship
and suffering they had just experienced, I was not at all convinced
that I had what it takes to fulfill such a prophecy.
As the lines continued to move past each other, I shook hands and
hugged other dancers. Over and over again, as I thanked these vir-
tual strangers, I was caught off guard as each, in turn, also thanked
me: “For pulling me through!”; “For giving me strength!”; “For help-
ing me maintain my focus!”; “For being strong!”; “For having strong
prayers!” they said. More confused at each stop, I reached the end of
the line and shook hands with Calvin, the Sundance leader, or spon-
sor, whose words were equally shocking as he congratulated me and
said, “See you next year.” As I moved away, I reasoned he was simply
being polite, or had perhaps confused me with another supporter.
