TRIBAL KNOWLEDGE, SUPERNATURAL & CEREMONIES
(Various Tribal Groups, Spirit Doctor, Masks, Universe, and much more on this page)
May all who enter rest in peace and safety beneath my wings
May all who leave, take with them wings of comfort
INTRODUCTION
“We can and do relate to the Universe as a whole; we are a microcosm of the macrocosm and this relationship intoxicates us” – Thomas Aquinas) North America’s Indigenous people have an enduring heritage of connections with the natural world and universe. Native spiritual life knows that all forms of life in the natural world are inter-connected. No distinction is made between the spiritual and the secular because it is a holistic totality. Prior to European contact, the deep knowledge of Indigenous cultures was highly developed, sophisticated, coherent and included cosmology–creation myths, accurately transmitted orally from one generation to the next, that explained the origins of Indigenous people and their relationship to the wider natural world. Oral narratives explained the world as it was. It is also evident that the creative imagination of the storytellers had been at work and the various characters and heroes were also created to furnish amusement by their adventures and pranks. For example, Culture Hero, Raven narratives were as a result of the Northwest coast people’s close proximity to this fun-loving, highly intelligent and sociable black bird. Some Native peoples worshiped an all-powerful, all-knowing Creator or “Master Spirit.” This entity was more widely accepted in post-European contact history when Native people were exposed to Christianity and its idea of a Supreme Male Being. Most tribal societies did not go so far as to ‘gender’ this entity, therefore Creator or Great Mystery or Great Spirit is considered neither male or female. Some tribal societies also venerated or placated a host of lesser supernatural entities, including evil sorcerers and witches who visited disaster, suffering, and death upon the world. Others simply laid their faith in their Ancestors, who had gone before and retained enormous amounts of knowledge and experience. The Tsimshian, for example, called some healers who caused physical, emotional, spiritual and mental damage, sorcerers rather than Spirit Doctors. Overall, however, most First Nations cultures based their knowledge on the doctrine of animism, that is that all living beings including some inanimate objects possessed spirits, the Cree call it manitowak, the Tsimshian, halaayt. In other words, all aspects of the natural world had souls independent of their physical manifestation. Moreover, Ancestors would not considered ‘dead’, but simply living in another world. They were usually the first called to an important ceremony with song, dance, prayers, and red cloth; because their gentle energy always liked a good party and the colour red, would usually arrive with them! Members of most tribes believed in the immortality of the human soul and an afterlife. Like many cultures, they sought to enlist the aid of the supernatural in controlling the natural and social worlds, and each tribe had its own set of observances devoted to the celebration of this knowledge. Individuals tried to woo or appease powerful spiritual entities with private prayers or sacrifices of valuable items (e.g., gifts of fur, tobacco, food). Entire communities sought divine assistance to ensure a successful hunt, a good harvest, or victory in war. They called upon the Spirit Doctors, whom they accepted had acquired supernatural powers through visions. The Spirit Doctors** carried out special ceremonies, songs and dances. People gathered around the sacred fires and sent their prayers to the Ancestors on the smoke. ** The modern term is ‘Shaman.’. Within North American Indigenous circles there is no Native translation for it because it pertains primarily to those living in Central Asia. As North America’s Indigenous peoples originated on Turtle Island the phrase “Spirit Doctor” is most often used. Many tribes have unique concepts of the world and its place in the universe. One theme understood the universe as being composed of multiple layers. Earth was the middle segment. The Lower World (below the Earth). The Supernatural World (the world of the Ancestors above the Earth). Some tribes, i.e. Haudenosaunne, believed these layers were linked by the World Tree (Tree of Peace), which had its roots in the underground, and its trunk passed through the natural world, and ascended up into the sky world thereby ‘tying’ the three worlds together in an unbreakable bond. Other tribes (Hopi) believed that Spider Woman wove a special web that connected the worlds. |
PACIFIC NORTHWEST COAST KNOWLEDGE |
ANISHINAABE (Ojibwa) (Anishinaabe loosely Means: From Whence He Was Lowered) Culture Hero/Transformer: Nanabush (or Nanabozho). This supernatural hero had a central place in Anishinaabe understandings of the origin of the world. Like many Culture Heroes, Nanabush organized the earth out of chaos. In the beginning Gehi Mnidoo (Kitchi Manitou – Great Spirit) had a powerful dream and out of that dream came the mountains, rivers, land, water, plant world and animals. Unfortunately the world as it was in the beginning was tumbled into chaos. Something had to be done. Grandfather Sun lit the earth and caused things to grow in the womb of Mother Earth. The water cleaned and purified, the great winds offered the breath of life and brought great change to the world. To the humans the gift of dreams was given. But, they were not yet formed in a manner that they knew what to do with them. Kitchi Manitou sent a great teacher, Nanabush. He was the son of West Wind and the great grandson of the Moon. He was sent by Gehi Mnidoo to teach the Ojibwa. One of his first jobs was to name all the plants and animals. He taught the Ojibwa to fish. He also had unique powers to help organize the world out of the chaos. Like all Culture Hero’s, he was a shapeshifter, and one of his favourite guises was as Mishabooz (Great Rabbit). Nanabush’s mother died at his birth, and he was raised by his grandmother, Nokomis. Throughout his life he did many good things, and sometimes he employed subterfuge to get the job done. In this respect he was quite human using all aspects of his mental, physical, spiritual and emotional self to help put the world in order. WINDIGO AND WENDIGO WINDIGO SPEAKS: “Speaking of ugly, I am a huge mysterious human-like creature living deep in the forests of Quebec, Minnesota and other Northern states as well as Northern Canada. Native legends are full of fearful tales about me with good reason. I am a tall, monster from another world. Hikers and hunters who become lost are lured with visions of food and shelter only to fall into my clutches and become my next meal. White settlers considered my presence to be a death omen. A sighting of my 30-foot-tall, glowing figure, with a star upon my forehead, was always followed by an immediate death in the family. I have many definitions, almost as many as there were Native Tribes, that is before the Europeans came to this continent. I AM AN ACTUAL ANIMAL. Only a powerful medicine man or woman can destroy me because I can not be killed with conventional weapons.” WENDIGO – THE SPIRIT OF THE LONELY PLACES WENDIGO SPEAKS: “I am the SPIRIT of Windigo. Humans who insist on venturing alone into the wilderness should fear the Spirit of the Lonely Places, as I am always following closely behind you. As you tramp through bush or forest, hills or desert, with no other company but your thoughts and fears, you will become slowly aware that I am following you. No matter how quickly you may turn, I move faster. You see nothing except perhaps the slightest movement of shadow. I sometime acts as a protector, but not often, and only when a powerful medicine woman or man has intervened and caused me to swoop down down to attack evil-doers; legend states I drag and force an evil-doer to run until his feet catch fire. At that point, he is either taken up into the sky or keeps running until he dies; in either case, he is never seen or heard from again thanks to spirit doctor intervention and my obedience to her wishes.” AN INTERVIEW WITH SHANNON THUNDERBIRD ABOUT WINDIGO Where did the word come from? Where does Windigo live primarily? Why such a malevolent creature? What’s the bad news? Are there any changes to the understanding of what Windigo is? Do you still believe in Windigo? Can Windigo be mistaken for another monster? THUNDERBIRD (centre) controlled the weather, living in nests of stone on high mountaintops constantly shrouded in clouds. Thunderbirds were particularly sought as guardian spirits because of their power. The mortal enemy of Thunderbird was the Great Serpent (right) who lived below the waters, and Mishipisu (left), a large, horned water panther. Thunderbird’s lightning bolts were used to try and tame him. KNOWLEDGE Pre-European Contact: Ojibwa did not believe in one supreme being. Every living being in the world had its own power that could help or harm humans, so a supreme being was simply not necessary. This power was considered to be supernatural and was called ‘Manitou’ and was prayed to using gifts of tobacco or occasionally sacrificing a dog. Main Ceremony: These include: Powwows and Sweatlodges, Visionquests (see below), Prayers, and seeking guardian spirits. The Naming Ceremony, which remembers the sacrifices of Nanabush in naming everything, requires that a medicine person be asked by the father and mother to seek a name for their child. The seeking can be done through fasting, meditation, prayer or dreaming and the Ancestor spirits give the name. Visionquest was used when young men reached adolescence, and sought assistance of supernatural beings as guardian spirits. He would usually seclude himself out in nature, refraining from food, drink or sleep until a vision appeared. It was only in the latter part of the 20th century that women, also went out on visionquest. Post-European Contact:Most sacred force: Gehi Mnidoo often identified as the sun was remote from humans and had little to do with everyday affairs. There is no reference to Gehi Mnidoo prior to the arrival of the Europeans and is probably a fusion of Christian and Native beliefs. Post-European Contact: Midewiwin (means Mystic doings), also known as the Grand Medicine Society and whose initial primary role was to cure illness has become a moreorless central expression of the revised Ojibwa knowledge. Healing matters are primarily male in this new version. There are various forms of spiritual healers and practitioners among the Ojibwa. The “tcisaki” or male diviner, the “nanandawi” or tribal doctor, the “wabeno” or “men of the dawn sky” who “manipulates fire in order to interpret dreams, guide novices, and heal the sick,” and the “meda” or family healer. Then there is the Midewiwin. It was first noted around 1715 and is a combination of primarily Christian and some traditional sensibilities. It has a very structured hierarchy, with a number of distinct levels, along the lines of the British Masons. It is open to both men and women, however, it is primarily male driven (the Christian side of things!) There are extensive periods of instruction time into the secret rituals and stories. There are eight levels: the first four called earth grades and the second four called sky grades. Few go beyond the earth grades. Extensive training of the Midewiwin means that its members become the holders of NEW knowledge. This can be a double-edged sword because it incorporates a powerful element of Christianity AND the rewriting of original history! As a result, it has become a patriarchal organization with little input from, and respect for women. This is borne out of the Christian dogma that accompanies and distorts some of the old knowledge and places women on the margins of their own culture, hence their denial to be allowed to sit at the big drums, or handle sacred objects while on their moontime. Fortunately not all Ojibwa follow these new practices. Medicine Men/Women (Spirit Doctor) The Seven Fires Prophecies of the Anishinaabe ANISHINAABE SEVEN GRANDFATHERS (ANISHINAABE) Adapted from the teachings of the Plains Indigenous people, the Anishinaabe hold dear the following seven teachings:
The seven teachings should be used together, and not in isolation. To leave out any of them is to embrace the opposite of what that teaching is about. If honesty is not practiced then we cheat; if we do not love we will hate; if we do not tell the truth we will lie. Makes perfect sense to me as that was the intent of the Plains teachings from which the above is derived. The original knowledge, by the way, did not gender the meanings, i.e., “He learned”. That is as a result of the incorporation of Christianity and a male god. |
HAUDENOSAUNEE AND WAMPUM
PLAINS
Culture Hero/Transformer: Iktomi (Spider Spirit), his main persona). Like all Culture Heroes, he is also a shapshifter. He can take on any shape including human. Iktomi is the son of Inyan, rock. Inyan similar in form to other male creator gods. Iktomi has a younger brother, called Iya, who is a destructive and powerful spirit. One story of Iktomi goes that in the ancient days, Iktomi was Ksa, or wisdom, but was stripped of this title and became Iktomi because of he fell victim to his own anger and misused his power by playing malicious tricks on people when they made fun of his unusual looks. Most of his schemes end with him falling into ruin when his intricate plans backfire which are teachings in themselves. These tales are usually told as a way to teach lessons to Lakota youth. Iktomi often played the part of a comedian or slapstick character particularly if the story was being played for laughs which was often done when teaching youth about their misdeeds. Stories such as this were designed not to bring shame to the person it was being aimed at but to allow that person to exit with the teaching and dignity intact and that they haven’t been ‘ganged’ up on. Iktomi, like all culture heroes, is also a serious, compassionate figure. Iktomi’s power is so great that he spun a huge web and draped it all over the world. This is the original interpretation of fiber-optic cable, the Internet and all forms of telecommunications systems. Main Knowledge – 7 CEREMONIES & 7 TEACHINGS The other hunter, who had a pure heart was asked to return to his people and tell to prepare for her arrival. When she arrived she removed a bundle from her back and showed them a pipe. She said, “the bowl i made from red stone, it represents the earth. Tatanka (buffalo) is carved into the bowl which represents all four-legged animals. You must honour them and take only what you need.” She showed them the stem. “It is made of wood and it presents all the growing things around you. Be judicious in your use of the plants, grasses, and trees.” With the wave of a graceful hand she indicated the twelve eagle feathers hanging from the stem. “These feathers represent all the flyers, they are the messengers, hear their words, for they are wise.” She then joined the bowl to the stem. “When all these things are joined together, your prayers will travel on the smoke of the tobacco to Wakan Tanka (Great Spirit). All living beings on earth are sacred, they must be honoured and respected at all times.” She continued her instructions indicating seven circles carved into the pipe’s bowl. “There are seven reasons for you to use the pipe.”
When Ptesan Wi left the camp, she rolled four times, each time changing into one of the four colours of human, first red, then black, then yellow and then white. As a result Buffalo did not readily run from humans (unless stampeded). She said she would eventually return to help the people heal. Lakota People believe she has returned with the birth of the first white buffalo calf in 1994; five others have since been born. Ultimately the Buffalo was used as a weapon by the Europeans to bring the Plains Natives down; thousands were shot indiscriminately leaving their bodies to rot on the Plains. As Crazy Horse was reported to have said in a glorious understatement, “It was a bad thing done to our brother, Tatanka.” Tatanka, therefore is the mental, spiritual, emotional and physical sustenance of the Plains People. For thousands of years vast herds provided the basis for all Plains Life. There was once so many, they “darkened” the landscape like a vast cloud. Seven Sacred Teachings given to the Lakhota by White Buffalo Calf Woman: Honesty: Wóowothanla – Stand in your own truth. Be honest with yourself and with others. Here the songs of your heart. Main Ceremony – Sun Gazing/Thirst Dance The Sun Dance usually takes place in and around the Summer Solstice (June 21st) and is the most sacred ceremony of the Plains First Nations. The Europeans considered it a pagan and savage rite of passage. It was eventually outlawed for a time at the end of the nineteenth century. The original dance called for fixed gazing at the Sun while dancing, blowing bone whistles, fasting, self-torture by dragging buffalo skulls and/or being bound to the Sacred Tree with the insertion of a bone under the skin of the chest and then breaking the ties. Quite simply, it was an annual right of passage for warriors and a time for renewal and reconnection to Wakan Tanka and to all their Ancestors who passed before. The Sun Dance area was built like a palisade with long sticks dug into the ground, on the top were placed tree branches to act as a bit of shelter from the relentless sun. The central pole, also called the “Tree of Life” was chosen by the ranking Spirit Doctor and erected in the centre of the Sun Dance theatre. It was decorated as well. At sunrise the following day, the ceremony began and lasted for four full days. Those warriors who had chosen to sacrifice themselves, that is undergo the piercing or dragging of the buffalo skull ceremonies needed the time to prepare themselves spiritually, mentally, physically and emotionally for the ordeal. Most often they were asking Wakan Tanka to be a better warrior or hunter. First they purified themselves in Inipi (sweatlodge), after which they placed circlets of sage on their heads, around their wrists and ankles. They also had a whistle made from eagle bone. The opening ceremony and dance into the lodge include a call to the Ancestors to come to the dance. Prayers, tobacco, red cloth (Ancestors like the colour red), pipe-smoking on the part of Elders, calling of individual names, were all used to entice the Ancestors. Their energy was needed to help the warriors endure piercing and the dragging of the buffalo skulls. The Spirit Doctor pierces their chests with a piece of bone which was slid below the skin. Long pieces of hide were attached. When the warrior felt ready, he reared back as fast as he could ripping the bone from his chest. Other warriors had the bone inserted in their upper backs and they were tied to a buffalo skull (weighing upwards of fifty pounds). They ran dragging the skull behind, sometimes over rocking terrain trying to rip the skull from the backs. All of this self-sacrifice was to prove that if they could endure this, they could endure anything that came their way, particularly in battle. The dancers were supported by Spirit Doctors, Drummers and Singers who sang songs of triumph and healing as the warriors endured the ritual. More on Medicine Wheel Knowledge Medicine Men/Women (Spirit Doctor) SUPERNATURAL KNOWLEDGE
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POWWOW
The word Powwow, comes from the Algonkian, pau wau, meaning people coming together to trade. Explorers misinterpreted the ceremony when they witnessed medicine men dancing, thinking all Natives gathered to sing and dance in this manner. The modern day Powwow evolved from the Plains Native Grass Dance Societies that formed during the early 1800’s. The dances were an opportunity for the warriors to re-enact their brave deeds for all the members of the tribe to witness. Oddly enough, the establishment of reservations created a renaissance for the powwow. Tribal customs and ceremonial knowledge had been outlawed, yet the Grass Dance was one of the few celebrations that had been allowed to remain during this transitional period which allowed for the maintenance of some earlier tribal customs. As other communities and tribes were invited to these celebrations, rights of ownership of sacred items necessary to the Grass Dance were formally transferred from one tribe to another. “Inter-tribalism” began to emerge with the sharing of these songs and dances. Gift-giving and generosity were integral aspects of these early festivities, as they still are today. Powwows really began to blossom after the Second World War when the ceremonies were used to welcome Native veterans home from the war. Hence, the Powwow Grand Entry is always led by the Veterans as a great honouring and deep respect for their sacrifices and brave deeds. Powwows are a time to celebrate and help preserve a rich cultural heritage. It is a time to renew old friendships and make new ones. Although powwows take place throughout the year, the “powwow season” is usually between April-November. Powwows are held on reservations and various locations throughout First Nations Country and usually last from Friday-Sunday, sometimes longer. Dancing, Drumming and Singing have always been a very important part of the life of Native people, and the two or three day celebration is filled with the sounds and colour of many varied Native cultures. American Powwows really began to flourish after the United States government lifted its ban in 1933. Returning war veterans were honoured with homecoming dances; In the 1950s and 60s, powwows became “inter-tribal,” meaning that they were open for all tribes to attend, and the practice of “contesting” began. Contesting involves dance competitions broken down into different categories (i.e. jingle, fancy shawl, traditional, children, young adults, adults). Some of the bigger powwows, have prize money in the thousands of dollars. The difference between a Traditional Powwow and a Competitive Powwow is that in a traditional powwow, the dancers do not dance for money, but rather for the Ancestors and a higher purpose of balance and harmony between their people and the Earth. Powwows have been growing, constantly changing and adapting to modern ways, while still retaining their cultural roots. Brighter colors, more elaborate regalia, more intricate dance moves, and even new styles of dance have emerged (women’s jingle dress) with the passage of time. First Nations culture is living history and culture, it is never stagnant but moves forward as Mother Earth moves forward. Flags Eagle Staff descriptions of Powwow Dances, Proper Protocol, Grand Entry, Regalia |
THE UNIVERSE
HOW DO HUMANS RELATE TO THE UNIVERSE
Do Not Be Afraid to Gaze at the Universe and Greet Your Sisters and Brothers! |
WHEN THE UNIVERSE WAS AN INFANT
A satellite that can peer so far back in time has snapped the first “baby pictures” of the universe only a few hundred thousand years after the Big Bang. The above is called the “cosmic microwave background” and Astronomers are giving a current date of 13.7 billions years to the age of the Universe. According to the scientists, the world is in a serious mid-life crisis. The satellite currently orbiting the sun 1.6 million kilometres farther out than the Earth measures temperature changes down to the millionths of a degree. The energy left over from the Big Bang has taken more than 13 billion years to reach Earth, traveling at the speed of light. It is similar to energy generated by a microwave oven. Dark Energy is on the rise. No, this is not a new superhero movie. Dark Energy is a force that is steadily increasing to the point that it is dominating the universe causing it to blow apart at a rapidly accelerating rate (and here we thought we just had problems with our world!) |
A GIRL WITH STARS IN HER EYES AND A SERIOUSLY BRILLIANT UNIVERSAL BRAIN!
Physicist, Dr. Fotini Markopoulou (Waterloo, Ontario, Institute for Theoretical Physics) is thinking in a bold new way about the universe. Even Einstein was stumped in coming up with a theory that combined the two dominant yet contradictory descriptions of how the universe works – relativity vs. quantum mechanics. Relativity: describes space and time at the grand scale where gravity is the dominant force. Quantum Mechanics describes the smallest scale, far down inside atoms where different forces prevail. So how do you combine the small picture with the big picture and still have a plausible explanation? Just ask the young and brilliant Dr. Markopoulou. She says that by combining the two theories into a single view of “quantum gravity” or “Theory of Everything.” In other words, the universe is not a smooth space-time continuum as Einstein posited, but, rather a “lumpy tabletop” of a network of individual atoms that are themselves composed of small packages of space-time (“Quanta” is another word for small packages). Not only is this a whole new idea, it is provable! Dr. Markopoulou’s theory will be tested by a NASA telescope scheduled to go into orbit in three years. The telescope will search for gamma ray bursts that erupt from stars. If the universe is “lumpy”, then smaller photons of light from the burst will take longer to reach Earth than bigger photons. Dr. M. postures that, “the smaller photons will wind up traveling farther because they dip down into the gaps between the lumps.” Who knew? Photon: Electromagnetic energy that has both particle and wave properties: it has no charge or mass but possesses momentum and energy, rather like the Pacific Northwest Coast Transformer Figure, Raven. |
VISIONQUEST
Young boys before or at puberty, back in the day were encouraged to enter into a period of fasting, meditation and physical challenge. He separated himself from the tribe and went to a wilderness area. The goal was to receive a vision that would guide his development for the rest of his life. He also sought to acquire a guardian spirit who would be close and supportive for his lifetime. In the ancestral times girls were not usually eligible for such a quest because it was thought they regularly experienced a connection with the ancestral world on their monthly ‘moontime’ (menstral cycle). Also the post-European male attitude that women on their menstral cycle were too powerful and therefore not eligible for such sacred quests – Sigh! Now, both boys, girls, men and women, if the need arises, go out on visionquest. A MODERN VISIONQUEST IS:
Back in the day, The young man remained secluded in a forest or mountain with no food, water or shelter, and wept, prayed, slept naked before the Elements. He remained in that place until a vision was achieved. He sought assistance of supernatural beings and animal spirit guides some of which were sown onto regalia to make him a more powerful warrior. Before a vision quest there was (and is) a purifying Sweat Lodge ceremony. Upon return from the quest, there would be another sweat. Elders helped him assemble sacred objects that were told to him in vision, Also known as a ‘medicine bundle’ – wrapped in hide, and contained a warrior’s dearest possessions. He would unwrap these sacred objects before any significant event (hunt, war). Elders also kept an eye on the young man while he was out. Upon return, there was a great celebration to mark this life-changing moment. (photo right: Kwakwaka’wakw (often referred to as Kwakiutl) Tsimshian: Back in the day, going out in nature meant without creature comforts. Sometimes, a small blanket was allowed to be taken, but essentially no food or water was ingested, and the individual had to fend for himself in terms of creating fire and shelter with no tools. Often they would strike themselves with hemlock leaves, or wear a crown of hemlock leaves. Such activity was usually in the fall and winter (the time of ceremonials) when everyone was less busy with the normal tasks of survival. In modern times, the visionquest is an opportunity for a person (male or female), to sit out in nature in silent meditation and reflection. It usually takes place for two-four days somewhere out in a secluded, natural space. The modern visionquest allows for shelter, but no food or water. Visionquests are sacred time periods. If payment is required by those who organize it, it is believed by most Elders that the participant will receive no positive effect for the experience. Fee for a Vision is not a concept that works for the Ancestors either!! A gift of tobacco and another gift should always be given to those who are running the visionquest. If money in any denomination is offered to help defray costs, it is considered a gift and therefore acceptable. Never ask how much, because then it becomes a fee. ITEMS TO TAKE ON A MODERN VISIONQUEST
WOMEN AND VISIONQUEST |
“Natives who beat drums to drive off evil spirits are objects of scorn to smart Americans who blow horns to break up traffic jams.”
Mary Ellen Kelly |