Maidens Pollen Run

This is one of the sacred ceremonies they Apache's have. It is called the Maiden Pollen Run. It takes four days of preparation and four days of actually feasting. The maidens are dressed in buckskin dresses and have a variety of ceremonies (which we know nothing about) The Medicine men are the ones who perform these ceremonies. We were invited to the last day of this celebration. We had to be there at 6:00 because she has to run before the sun totally rises i the sky. When we got there they were gathering together as a family around her. After her blessing the maiden's ran from the teepees that were constructed in her honor. When they return everyone eats the feasts in her honor. It is quite a celebration. Look at the maidens running in one of the pictures. One of the memers took these pictures for me because we were not allowed cameras in the area.

But the construction of the tepee was absolutely phenominal!!! They had brought cut branches from the trees for this ceremony. With the beating of the drums they raised six branches with leaves on the top (see the picture). This was done at specific times. Then they all leaned their branches to make a teepee structure. It was very impressive. Then the ceremony of wrapping a rope around the top of the trees began. A young indian ran around the teepee to keep the branches together and make it hold together. It looked quite magestic against the blue sky with the sun shining. Then the indian braves took branches with leaves on them and tied them around the bottom of the teepee frame. They were tied together with reeds, not rope. At the very end of the ceremony they placed a canvas around the top of the teepee. Many other branches were placed around the bottom of the tepee to make a sound structure. Then they brought out shovels and sticks and made the ground soft at the entrance to the teepee. A large pole was shoved into the ground to make room for cut pine trees to line the path to the doorway. Then they lined the entrance with reeds. When it was finished it was beautiful! It was the most amazing thing I have every seen.