Apache girl and godfather dance with mountain spirits at her Sunrise Dance on the San Carlos Indian Reservation Arizona USA
An Apache girl and her godfather who sprinkles sacred white clay around him as a blessing dance with mountain spirits gaan or crown dancers during a Sunrise Dance on the San Carlos Apache Reservation Arizona USA The Sunrise Dance the first menstruation rite of an Apache girl is held during the summer within one year after the girl has had her first menstruation and lasts for four days The ceremony is an enactment of the Apache creation myth and during the rites the girl becomes Changing Woman a mythical female figure and comes into possession of her healing powers The rites are supposed to prepare the girl for adulthood and to give her a long and healthy life without material wants
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Photo credit: © Anders Ryman / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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