The Ghost Keeping Ceremony In Waterlily

Ella Cara Deloria’s novel Waterlily follows members of the Dakota Sioux through their lives as they grow up in a hunter-gatherer society and more specifically follows a young girl in the tribe named Waterlily as well as other members. Through this, many elements of Dakota Sioux society are portrayed, including numerous ceremonies that speak to their distinct ways of living that support their subsistence. One ceremony described is the Ghost Keeping ceremony. After Gloku, an important figure in the tribe and Waterlily’s grandmother dies, they feel it is necessary to perform a special ceremony in which Leaping Fawn, Waterlily’s cousin, acts as the custodian and protector of Gloku’s spirit, materialized in a bundle. In this bundle, hair from Gloku

Not only does this allow for the reinforcement of the same social construct and hierarchy produced through the teaching of Gloku, but it also forces members of the tribe to transform their grief and sadness over Gloku’s death into a productive way of living. When hunting and gathering food, it consumed not only a large amount of energy but also was extremely time-consuming. The men would hunt and the women would gather and cook but this would be happening continually every day, meaning if they were to become less productive in their hunting or gathering, their food supply would be dangerously low. By focusing on keeping the hospitality bowl full of food, the members of Gloku’s family were able to convert their sadness and grief into feelings of productivity, which again work towards collective living. This also relates to Leaping Fawn replacing Gloku, because it is Leaping Fawn’s responsibility to keep this bowl full of food for the other members of the tribe. In return, she is seen as respected and honorable within the tribe and is seen as motivation to maintain productivity. Keeping Leaping Fawn accountable, is teaching her the core values that she needs to successfully take on the roles and responsibilities left to her by Leaping Fawn. Not only does this psychologically prepare Leaping Fawn for the incredible responsibilities she must perform,

However, when an individual who serves a specific purpose in the tribe dies, their absence threatens the fragile social construct and hierarchy based on status that maintains order and ensures their success. In this instance, Gloku served an important role in educating and influencing the behavior of the young members of the tribe to necessitate the continuance and subsistence of the tribe. Filling this void was done through sacrifice by Leaping Fawn, as well as the bestowing of specific duties upon Leaping Fawn so that she may connect spiritually and at times be psychologically prepared to fulfill the necessary duties needed for the continuance of the tribe's