Making of Relatives
Hunka Ceremony

On the day of the ceremony the people should get up before the sun and get themselves ready. 

While they are doing this, the Holy Man paints his body red and puts on a headdress with buffalo horns.  Then he goes to the top of a nearby hill and faces the sun as it comes up.  He sings a song of praise and asks for a blessing on all the people.

Two tipis are put up.  One, a small tipi, which will be used for all the preparations, and a large tipi, which will be used for the ceremony.  When they are done, the Holy Man’s helpers go into the large tipi to make an altar and spread sage on the floor.  They dig a hole in the center of the tipi for a fireplace.  They also put a buffalo skull and a stone beside the altar.  The stone stands for Wakantanka who is the Tunkasila (Grandfather) of all things.  Finally, they set up a platform on the south side of the tipi where the Hunka meat will be placed.

When they have done all these things, the Holy Man comes with everything he will use for the ceremony: two horse tail wands, Hunka corn stick, rattles and a fire carrying stick.  He gives these to his helpers and then sings a song to the four directions.  They all march behind him in a circle outside the large tipi.  As they are marching the one who will become “Hunka” goes into the small tipi and waits for the Holy Man to come.  When the Holy Man stops singing outside the small tipi, he says to the people that there is a “toka”, a stranger, an “enemy” inside, and he asks who will go with him as he enters to capture him.  Then he shouts that those who are “hunkapi” should be ready to die for each other, and, with those who have joined him, he rushes inside and captures the one who will become ‘hunka’ – a relative - that day.

He takes him over to the large tipi singing a victory song as they go.  At the doorway he says to everyone that they should “kill” this enemy, unless someone is willing to take him for a hunka.  Then the one who will sponsor him steps forward and agrees to take him for a ‘hunka’, a relative.  After this happens the Holy Man gives his agreement, and everyone enters the large tipi and sits down.  Last of all, the Holy Man enters and sits in the place of honor, facing the altar and the one who will be made a hunka, with his sponsor.

The Holy Man fills the Pipe and gives it first to the one who is to become hunka.  Then the sponsor receives it, and finally it is passed around for everyone to smoke.  The last one to smoke it is the Holy Man, who then asks The Great Spirit to look down on everyone present and bless them in what they are about to do as well as all during their lives afterward.

The helpers put some special hunka ceremonial meat on the platform, and, when they are finished, the Holy Man looks toward the buffalo skull and addresses it.  He says that this meat was once the buffalo’s, and now the buffalo has provided them with this food.

Then he gives some sweet grass to the helper who puts it on the fire.  The good smell fills the whole tipi, and the Holy Man prays.  He asks that no evil come near them in this place, while they perform these ceremonies and that Wakantanka will bless all of them.

After this he says to the one who will become hunka that he is going to teach him how to behave like a true relative.  He tells him that the other hunkas will teach him. too, if he is willing to listen to them and take their good advice.  Then each one of them talks to  the one who is to become hunka, and they tell him what it means to be a hunka and how he must act, if he wishes to be one with them.

After this the helpers stand up and, with the hunka wands made of long flowing horse hair, wave them over the one who is becoming a hunka.  While they are doing this, the Holy Man prays that he be shielded from harm and receive the power to do good.  Then he himself takes a wand in each hand and waves them from side to side over the one becoming a hunka.  Then he turns and waves them, as well, over all the hunkapi present.  He sings a song as he does this, and all the people join in.

After this he takes a rattle in each hand and rattles them over the head of the one becoming a hunka and also over all the hunkapi who are there.  He prays that the sound of these rattles will call down God’s attention on everyone present at the ceremony.

Next he takes the special meat from the platform and gives it to the one who is becoming a hunka.  He tells him to give some of it to everyone in the tipi, but the Holy Man does not take any for himself.  While everyone is sitting and eating this meat, the Holy Man says to the one becoming hunka that even if he has some food in his mouth and sees someone who is hungry he ought to take it out of his own mouth and give it to that hungry person.

Then he says that he ought to take his moccasins from his own feet and give them to another. when he sees someone who has none, or the moccasins of the other one are old and worn.

If he sees someone who is cold and has nothing warm to wear, then he ought to take off his clothes and give them to that person.  He should strip himself and give everything he has to another person who is poor.

Next, the Holy Man tells the sponsor and the one becoming a hunka to sit side by side.  The helper holds a robe over them, so that no one else can see them.  Then the Holy Man ties them together, arm to arm and leg to leg.   After this the robe is taken off, and he explains to the one becoming hunka that they have been bound to each other, and that what each one has now belongs to the  other.  Now they must help each other in every way, and what is done to one is done to the other. 

Then the Holy Man stands up and declares that this one is now a Hunka.  Gifts are given away by the new hunka and his family, and there is a feast to which everyone is invited.