PREPARING FOR WOMANHOOD

    O You, White Swan Power of the place where we always face, who
control the path of the generations and of all that moves, we are
about to purify a virgin, that her generations to come may walk in a
sacred manner upon that path which You control. There is a place for
You in the pipe! Help us with Your two red and blue days!

    O Wakan Tanka, Grandfather, behold us! We are about to offer the
pipe to You!

    O You, Grandmother, upon whom the generations of the people have
walked, may White Buffalo Cow Woman Appears and her generations walk
upon you in a sacred manner in the winters to come. O Mother Earth,
who gives forth fruit, and who is as a mother to the generations,
this young virgin who is here today will be purified and made sacred;
may she be like You, and may her children and her children's children
walk the sacred path in a holy manner. Help us, O Grandmother and
Mother, with Your red and blue days!

    O Wakan Tanka, behold us! We are about to offer this pipe to You.

    O you, our four-legged relative, and who of all the four-legged
peoples are nearest to the two-leggeds, you too are to be placed in
the pipe, for you have taught us how you cleanse your young, and it
is this way that we shall use in purifying White Buffalo Cow Woman
Appears. I give to you an offering, O four-legged, water, paint,
cherry juice, and also grass. There is a place for you in the pipe -
help us!

    O Wakan Tanka and all the winged Powers of the universe, behold
us! This tobacco I offer especially to You, the Chief of all the
Powers, who is represented by the Spotted Eagle who lives in the
depths of the heavens, and who guards all that is there! We are about
to purify a young girl, who is soon to be a woman. May You guard
those generations which will come forth from her! There is a place
for You in the pipe - help us with the red and blue days!

     OGLALA DAKOTA CHANT