Heyoka

The Heyoka is a sacred fool, a clown with a great deal of power. The "contrary", the person who does everything backwards. They are one of the most important parts of the Lakota Nation.
Heyoka by Red Elk
Whenever the clowns enter the stage of drama in a ritual and wherever they are found in the oral histories, stories, or songs, the clowns have something in common. Scared clowns from different tribes can recognize another scared clown without word passing between them, they would be able to know who the other one was; what he represented and what he was placed on earth to do.
Early histories of oral tradition introduce the concept and the techniques of clowning. When clowns appear in the creation stories they play important roles during the emergence of “The People” into the present. Sacred clowns have a special relationship to the sun, almost like sons. Particularly in the southwest there is often more than one clown society. Example: Pueblos divide clowns into summer and winter clowns.
The rest of the article can be found at  http://www.redelk.org/website/heyoka.htm
Impersonating Heyo'ka (The role of the sacred clown) by Mark Caroncan
People think that the clown is just nothing, that he is just for fun. That is not so...Many people who know about these things say that the clown is the most powerful.
The Lakota, or Sioux as they are more commonly called, are a Native American nation who flourished in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. They live in the mid-western plains. In the Lakota society the heyoka, or 'sacred clown,' is viewed as a very powerful and important person.2 When one has a vision of thunder-beings he is called by Wakinyan, the Thunder Being, to be a heyoka. With this duty, he must do everything in contrary to what is meant. This often means violating social norms.3 This contradiction causes many observers to feel that the heyoka practices are foolish and sac-religious. Moreover, in the 1920s these 'obscene' ceremonies involving heyokas have been 'principal targets' of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.4 However, the heyoka play a very vital role in the religion of the Lakota. This importance can be seen in their participation in ceremonies, the reverence shown to them by their people, and their healing practices.
The rest of the article can be found at http://www.heyokadesign.com/more-about-heyoka.asp