Everseekingtoestablishspiritualcomradeshipwiththeanimalcreation，theIndianadoptedthisorthatanimalashis\"totem，\"theemblematicdeviceofhissociety，family，orclan。
Itisprobablethatthecreaturechosenwasthetraditionalancestress，aswearetoldthattheFirstManhadmanywivesamongtheanimalpeople。Thesacredbeast，bird，orreptile，representedbyitsstuffedskin，orbyarudepainting，wastreatedwithreverenceandcarriedintobattletoinsuretheguardianshipofthespirits。Thesymbolicattributeofbeaver，bear，ortortoise，suchaswisdom，cunning，courage，andthelike，wassupposedtobemysteriouslyconferreduponthewearerofthebadge。Thetotemorcharmusedinmedicinewasordinarilythatofthemedicinelodgetowhichthepractitionerbelonged，thoughthereweresomegreatmenwhoboastedaspecialrevelation。
Therearetwoceremonialusageswhich，sofarasIhavebeenabletoascertain，wereuniversalamongAmericanIndians，andapparentlyfundamental。Thesehavealreadybeenreferredtoasthe\"eneepee，\"orvapor-bath，andthe\"chan-du-hu-pah-yu-za-pee，\"orceremonialofthepipe。InourSiouanlegendsandtraditionsthesetwoarepreeminent，ashandeddownfromthemostancienttimeandpersistingtothelast。
InourCreationmythorstoryoftheFirstMan，thevapor-bathwasthemagicusedbyThe-one-who-was-First-Created，togivelifetothedeadbonesofhisyoungerbrother，whohadbeenslainbythemonstersofthedeep。UpontheshoreoftheGreatWaterhedugtworoundholes，overoneofwhichhebuiltalowenclosureoffragrantcedarboughs，andherehegatheredtogetherthebonesofhisbrother。Intheotherpithemadeafireandheatedfourroundstones，whichherolledonebyoneintothelodgeofboughs。
Havingclosedeveryaperturesaveone，hesangamysticchantwhilehethrustinhisarmandsprinkledwateruponthestoneswithabunchofsage。Immediatelysteamarose，andasthelegendsays，\"therewasanappearanceoflife。\"Asecondtimehesprinkledwater，andthedrybonesrattledtogether。Thethirdtimeheseemedtohearsoftsingingfromwithinthelodge；andthefourthtimeavoiceexclaimed：\"Brother，letmeout！\"（ItshouldbenotedthatthenumberfouristhemagicorsacrednumberoftheIndian。）