Answer:
White Man's Dog's experiences at the sun dance festival in Fools Crow were both different and similar to what I expected. On the one hand, I expected the festival to be a solemn and serious affair, with the participants focused on their prayers and rituals. While there were certainly moments of solemnity, I was surprised by the festive atmosphere that pervaded much of the festival, with dancing, feasting, and socializing among the participants. I also expected the festival to be entirely focused on the spiritual and religious aspects of the Blackfeet culture, but I was struck by the pragmatic concerns that were also evident, such as the need to hunt and gather food to sustain the participants during the ceremony. Despite these differences from my expectations, I was impressed by the deep sense of community and shared purpose that the festival embodied, as well as the intense spiritual devotion of the participants.