An Apache girl dances in a kneeling position during her Sunrise Dance on the San Carlos Indian Reservation Arizona USA
An Apache girl dances in a kneeling position during her Sunrise Dance a first menstruation ceremony on the San Carlos Indian Reservation Arizona USA The rites are an enactment of the Apache creation myth and are supposed to prepare the girl for adulthood giving her a long and healthy life During the rites the girl becomes Changing Woman a mythical female figure and comes into possession of her healing powers This particular part of the ceremony symbolises the moment when Changing Woman was impregnated by the sun and gave birth to a son Behind the girl who is dressed in buckskin clothes stands her godmother and behind her the medicine man and his helpers sing and beat their drums
Size: 5575px × 3699px
Photo credit: © Anders Ryman / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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