Sun Dance One of the most sacred ceremonies of the Plains Indians was, and still is, the Sun Dance. Each tribe had its own distinct variations of the Sun Dance. For Stoney Bands, a Sun Dance would be held in times of great need, or when a vision of a Sun Dance came to an individual. The Sun Dance, for the Blackfoot, signified a vow made by a virtuous woman of the tribe at a time of severe crisis. This would begin the preparations for a Sun Dance. One example of how a Sun Dance began, was with the Medicine Man going into the forest to fast for four days. The four days of fasting was followed by four days of rest at home. Then, he set out on foot to the ceremonial site. After arriving at the site he would sweat and then go out and choose a tree for the centre pole. This tree was placed into the centre of the large ceremony site. The site was surrounded by a wall of leaves to prevent those not invited, from seeing the ceremony. Before the dance began, coloured cloth offerings would be tied around the top of the tree. These represented the prayers of the people. The Sun Dance consisted of dancers attaching themselves to the centre pole with bone or wood skewers. Then, dancing around in a circle to the beat of drums and prayers, they pulled against the pole to tear the skewers out. Some dancers also attached a buffalo skull to their back. This form of self torture was considered highly honourable. This ceremony would continue for four days with some participants even dancing throughout the night. Their faces would be painted. As they danced, they blew eagle bone whistles to call the eagle spirit or Thunderbird. Those participating in a Sun Dance would obtain a sense of well being, contentment, and harmony with the universe. In the 1880's, the Canadian government officially discouraged and in some places prohibited the Sun Dance.