Osage Culture Traveling Trunk Project

In-Lon-SchkaThe In-Lon-Schka is one of the mostimportant ceremonial gatherings in Osageculture. The Osages received the In-Lon-Schka about 130 years ago as a gift fromthe Ponca and Kaw people, who are closelyrelated to the Osage. The In-Lon-Schkacelebrates and passes on Osage culture,and unites Osages from around thereservation and country.

The In-Lon-Schka and the modern NativeAmerican pow-wow both include singing,drumming, and dancing. However, they arenot the same. The In-Lon-Schka is spiritual.The pow-wow is mainly secular.

Secular: Not spiritual.Osages proceed to the arbor for

In-Lon-Schka dances.

Photo by Megan Scales

The In-Lon-Schka dances take placeover three weekends in June. Eachweekend, the dances are in one ofthree Osage communities. Thesecommunities are Grayhorse, Hominy,and Pawhuska. Each weekend, thedances begin on Thursday and endon Sunday. On these days, peopledance in the afternoon, eat dinner,then dance again late into the night.Many Osages come from all over thecountry to watch and participate.

No one is allowed to photograph In-Lon-Schka dancing. That is why thepictures here show events justbefore or after the dancing.

Osage Andrea Hunterat In-Lon-Schka dancesin Grayhorse in 2013.

The In-Lon-Schka dances take place in arbors. A drum is placed inthe middle of the arbor with the drummers and singers sittingaround it. Then dancers surround the drum and dance around thearbor counter-clockwise. Osages dance in a straight style, takingsmall steps in beat with the drum.

Arbor: a building with no walls that is open to the outdoors.

This photo shows Osage men walking to the arbor entrance to start anIn-Lon-Schka dance session. The arbor is visible behind the men.

Photo by Megan Scales

Osages wear regalia toparticipate in the dances. Menand boy’s regalia includes adance shirt, scarf, breechcloth,leggings, moccasins, and a roach.

Osage women and girls also wearspecial clothing, such as shawlsor blankets draped over otherclothing.

Regalia: Special clothing designedand worn for a particularceremony or celebration.

Roach: A men’s headpiece madewith deer hair, porcupine hair, andan eagle feather. Osage woman in

shawl

Osage man wearing roach and other In-Lon-Schka regalia

Photo by Megan ScalesPhoto courtesy Osage News

To prepare and hold the In-Lon-Schka dances, Osages holdingvarious positions do a lot of work.These positions include Chairmanof the Dance Committee, DrumKeeper, Town Crier, Head Singer,Head Cook, Tail Dancers, WaterBoys, and other positions.

The Town Crier (right) is appointedfor life. His job includes ringing abell to indicate that the dances willsoon start. The Town Crier alsocalls people to come forward to behonored.

Town Crier

Photo by Megan Scales

The Water Boys servewater to singers anddancers at the In-Lon-Schka dances. Each WaterBoy carries a bucket ofwater and serves thewater with dippers.

Water Boys

Photo by Megan Scales

Osage men walk to arbor entrance for In-Lon-Schka dances

Photo by Megan Scales