Wodziwob facts for kids

Wodziwob (died around 1872) was a Paiute spiritual leader and medicine man. He is known for starting the first Ghost Dance ceremonies. These events took place in what is now Nevada, around the year 1869.

Who Was Wodziwob?

Wodziwob was a respected figure among the Paiute people. He lived in the Walker Lake Valley in Nevada. His teachings and visions were very important to his community. He is remembered for his role in the early days of the Ghost Dance movement.

Wodziwob's Spiritual Journeys and Visions

In 1869, Wodziwob went on a mountain and had several special visions. These visions were like powerful dreams or messages that he believed came from the spirit world.

First Vision: A New World for Native Americans

Wodziwob's first vision spoke of a big earthquake coming soon. He believed this earthquake would swallow up the white settlers and their homes. However, he said that Native Americans would be safe. They would then be able to enjoy the land and everything left behind. Not everyone believed this first prediction.

Second Vision: A Paradise for All Native Peoples

After another trip to the mountain, Wodziwob shared a new vision. This time, he said that everyone would be swallowed by the earthquakes. But after a few days, Native Americans would return to a world that had become a paradise. The white settlers, he believed, would not return. As the time for the predicted earthquakes passed, some people started to doubt Wodziwob's messages.

Third Vision: Belief and Eternal Life

Wodziwob went back to the mountain one more time. His third vision changed his message. He now said that those who believed in his prophecies would be brought back to life and be happy forever. But those who did not believe would stay in the ground.

He also shared a prophecy that a special train carrying the dead would arrive from the east within four years. Some people think this part of the prophecy might have been added later by his follower, Weneyuga.

By the time Wodziwob passed away around 1872, his message had changed again. He no longer spoke of the destruction of white settlers. Instead, he taught that everyone, no matter their background, would be granted eternal life.

The Legacy of Wodziwob's Teachings

After Wodziwob's death, his follower Weneyuga continued to share his prophecies for several years. However, when the train carrying the dead did not arrive as predicted, Weneyuga mostly stopped spreading the message. He became a respected medicine man until he died in the 1910s. Most of the direct activities related to Wodziwob's original message did not continue past the 1870s.

One of Wodziwob's followers might have been Numu-tibo'o, also known as Tavibo. For a long time, people mistakenly thought Numu-tibo'o was the same person as Wodziwob. Numu-tibo'o was the father of Wovoka. Wovoka later brought back his own version of the Ghost Dance in 1890. It was Wovoka's message and leadership that became very popular and gained many followers. When people today talk about "the Ghost Dance," they are usually referring to Wovoka's movement.