BUILDING A DANCE HOUSE

MOST ALL VILLAGES HAD A COMMUNAL BUILDING CALLED A DANCE HOUSE. THEY WERE PARTIALLY UNDERGROUND. THEY MADE A FIRE IN THE CENTER OF THE BUILDING. IN POMO VILLAGES THE POLES WERE MADE FROM WILLOW AND THE OUTSIDE OF THE DANCE HPOUSE WAS COVERED WITH RUSHES. IN SOME COMMUNITIES THESE BUILDINGS WERE ROUNDHOUSES, EARTH LODGES, ASSEMBLY HOUSES, OR DANCE HOUSES.

BEFORE BUILDING A DANCE HOUSE THE MEN WOULD GET TOGETHER AND DECIDE WHAT TREES THEY WOULD USE FOR THE POSTS. THEY MAKE SURE TO ASK THE WOMEN WHAT THEY FEEL ABOUT IT. THEY HAVE TO FEED ALL THE PEOPLE WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THE BUILDING.

THE MEN HAVE TO CUT THE TREES AND CARVE AND TRIM OFF THE BARK. THEY SELECT ONE LARGE POLE THAT IS IN THE CENTER OF THE ASSEMBLY HOUSE. IT IS BUILT IN ONE DAY. THE MEN DESIGN A FEATHER HEADDRESS TO PUT ON THE CENTER POLE. MANY MEN ARE INVOLVED IN THE DESIGN OF THE ROUND HOUSE AND THEY CARRY THE POLES AND THE RIBS. SOMEONE LASHES THE POSTS TO THE RIBS. IN SOME COMMUNITIES THERE IS MOSS STUFFED TO INSULATE THIS HOUSE AS WELL AS EARTH PLACED ON THE TOP OF IT. THEY MAKE SURE TO KEEP A SMOKE HOLE OPEN AS WELL AS A DOOR. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO COME FROM SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES TO HELP. AFTER COMPLETING THE HOUSE THERE IS EITHER A SWEAT OR A FEAST. IT IS CALLED THWE CHIEF'S HOUSE. ALL OF THE COMMUNITY HELPED ASSEMBLE THE DANCE HOUSE. THEY HAD A JOYOUS TIME CREATING THIS HOUSE. IT UNITED PEOPLE WITH ONE ANOTHER AND WITH EACH OTHER.