The Sun Dance Lodge Symbolism
The Crow Sun Dance lodge (Ashé Isée) is built as a microcosm of the universe. The central forked pole, representing God, faces east. A white flag tied to one branch represents Earth; a blue flag represents the sky. Three charcoal rings on the pole symbolize the three days of the dance and the three worlds of Crow cosmology. A buffalo head and eagle body are hung on the pole as patrons. Twelve cottonwood posts form the lodge boundary, representing the twelve months and the circle of life. For contemporary Christian Crows, the twelve posts also symbolize the twelve apostles and the three rings r