EXORCISING EVIL SPIRITS

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 10 March 1934, Page 11

EXORCISING EVIL SPIRITS

A RECURRENCE is reported from Northern Manitoba, Canada, of the ancient Indian practice of exorcising evil spirits, known as “Wee.tigo.” A patrol of the North-west Mounted iPolic-ei recently left The Pas, with dog teams, for the Barren Bands, near the North-west Territories border, where a Chippewa Indian, who was delirious, was reported to have been lashed to a sleigh in mid-winter and left to die. Two years ago, says the ‘ ‘ N.Z. Herald’s” Vancouver correspondent, the police investigated a similar report, without success. A number of Indians were said to have starved to death, due to these extraordinary rites. The last knows case of actuai bloodshed, caused by “Weatigo,” was in 1906. A band of SaLteaux Indians camped for the winter about 100 mites' from Norway House. A squaw foil ill, and raved in her delirium. Gradually, the tribe came to believe she was under the curse of “ Weetigo,” or oth.cr evil spirits that had caused Indians before them to become cannibals. In 1 , such emergency, the method adopted had been .to kill the person possessed, by cutting oil the head, and burying it under a pile of rocks, to imprison the spirit.

The squaw got worse. Hunters, afraid to venture forth, remained in their wigwams. Starvation faced the tribe. The “Medicine Man”" summoned the elders, and they decided to evoke the aid of the spirits. The squaw’s companions were banished from her wig-

Recurrence of Red Indian Barbarity

warn. A cord, passed through each end of it, was drawn round her neck. Two young hunters were ordered 1 to pull on it when they heard the beat of the drums, and to continue until it ceased. They did so, then fled in terror. The band departed as quickly as it could strike camp. Slowly, by “mocassin telegram,” the news spread until a white trader heard it, and advised the police when he visited Norway House to spend Christmas. Two, troopers were instructed to arrest the chief, the “Medicine Man,” and the two hunters. They trailed the band for a long time before coming up with them. The chief, knowing the police wanted him, had his braves, 20 of them, around him, their muskets on their knees. The troopers entered. He .threatened them with death. They held their ground, and warned him that the King—the Great "White Father, “Gitchie Ogemoff” —would send more and more Redcoats, who would never leave their trail till they were captured. The chief surrendered. With his three companions, he accompanied the troopers to Norway House. On the night before the Judge arrived, the “Medicine Man” disappeared, and was found hanging to a tree, his belt, round his throat. The chief was sentenced to death, but the Governor-General commuted it to a long term of imprisonment. He died four years later in prison. The voung hunters weie pardoned. The ‘ “Law of the Silent Places” was vindicated.