What is a Jump Dance?

MamaCoyote is beginning to feel better. She got up and made some meatballs for spaghetti sauce. She hasn't been able to eat much and so is hoping for a small miracle and the loss of a few pounds. Seems one should get some side benefits for being sick. Do you know how the Coeur d' Alene Indians restore harmony among tribal members once a year? Thought not, haha. Learned this from daughter's anthropology teacher, Dr. Frey. In late Jan. or Feb. members of one or two families (50 or more people) meet for three consecutive nights at one person's home. The event lasts from sundown to sunrise. A person rises and tells of problems they have been having and then starts singing his suumesh song. (personal medicine song). Then the drums are beaten and everybody jumps and jumps until the singing stops. This goes on all night for three nights. Great exercise, a lot of sweat, and some become so tired that they hallucinate and become bluejays and fly off into the night. Wow! What a party!! (No drugs or alcohol allowed, really) Oh, yeah, and harmony is restored because people speak from the heart and all the dirty laundry, so to speak, is hung out to air.