When Cole first returns to the island Garvey and Edwin stay with him a few days to help him settle in and build his shelter. At night Garvey and Edwin tell Cole to do a dance around the fire that imitates an animal they saw during the day. By doing this Cole learns qualities that each animal has and also learns a lesson about life. I found this very interesting and decided to look up Indian dances. Native American dances are a source of entertainment but also a spiritual celebration for man and nature to come closer together. Native American dances can be used as prayers and a way to express emotion. The dances are said to have a healing power for the person dancing and for the people close to the dancer. The dances are kept with a drum beat that is said to "beat with the heart of Mother Earth".
There are many types of dances, each having a special meaning and form of healing. The "Ghost Dance" is said to "regain the life once known to the tribe". These dances have been around as long as the Native Americans have. They are different than the dance that Cole, Garvey and Edwin did but they still have the same meaning and healing. Dances are usually performed with the tribe and done with drums and animal skins. People dress up in costumes and dance around the fire with a drum beat to have fun and celebrate different events in life with their tribes whether its birth or death. Like Edwin said in the book "everything is a celebration".
Sources:
http://impurplehawk.com/naspirit.html
http://www.ewebtribe.com/NACulture/dance.htm
http://www.angelfire.com/co/MedicineWolf/dance.html
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