* Also called Wabeno- pays homage to the “tree of the universe” every spring * All participants...
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* Also called Wabeno- pays homage to the “tree of the universe” every spring * All participants fast and cleanse themselves before the event * Male elder
* Also called Wabeno- pays homage to the tree of the universe
every spring * All participants fast and cleanse themselves before
the event * Male elder plays the drum and leads a dance around the
tree from Dawn until noon * Each dancer touches the tree to give
thanks * A great feast and celebration is had after the Morning
dance * Summer festival in the Great Plains nations- 8-16 days *
This ceremony identifies the circle as a symbol of importance and
gives respect to the sun as giver of life * Dance around a tree and
face the sun; pray for people and to the Great Spirit
Slide 2
Morning Dance p. 39 - AKA Wabeno - spring time - Ojibwa of
Southern Ontario - dance pays homage to tree of the universe -
fast, cleanse before - male elder plays drum and leads dance in
clearing around selected tree - dancer touches trunk to give thanks
- feast of meat and fish (lunch)
Slide 3
Sun Dance p. 39 -Great Plains nations - happens during 8-16 day
summer festival - festival and dance so powerful/symbolic that
Canadian govt. banned in late 1880s - circle as important symbol -
sun as sustaining life (face son to pay homage) - prayers said and
vows made to Great Spirit - celebration of renewal and reconnection
with all of creation (practised today) - dance for long periods
around cottonwood pole (tree of the universe) - some dancers embed
sharp wooden hooks deep into their chests and connect to leather
thongs that trail from top of cottonwood pole - as they dance they
pull and the hooks tear their flesh (scars bear witness of faith) -
believe body is only thing they can control (offer as sacrifice to
Creator) - by enduring pain others will not have to suffer
famine/war/disease
Slide 4
* Northwest Pacific Coast Nations * illegal in Canada 1884
(govt said it contributed to idleness, backward, wasteful) - ban
lifted in 1951 * Feasts, sharing wealth and songs and dancing *
Host clan gives a feast to celebrate an important event * The more
wealth a host gives away, the higher their status and greatness *
Song and dance to honor the Great Spirit
Slide 5
Potlatch Ceremony pp. 39-40 - Northwest Pacific Coast - illegal
in Canada 1884 (govt said it contributed to idleness, backward,
wasteful) - ban lifted in 1951 - feasting, distributing wealth,
sharing songs and dances - the host gives a feast to celebrate
(impt event, marriage, atone for humiliation) - more wealth host
gives away, more that person gains in status (hosting clan grows in
prestige)
Slide 6
* Common among Great Plains Nations * Renews soul and helps
regain focus * Cleansing of spiritual and physical body * Shaman
directs and performs the practice * (medicine man and spiritual
leader) * Dome made of saplings covered in animal skins, cedar or a
covering to make it dark and airtight * Heated stones placed in the
centre while water is sprinkled on them * Participants perspire
profusely- while praying and sharing a sacred pipe
Slide 7
Sweat Lodge p. 40 - ceremony common among Great Plans - renews
soul -cleanses physically and spiritually - under direction of
shaman (medicine man and spiritual leader) - sauna (in sweat lodge)
- dome made of saplings, covered by animal skins, cedar, dark,
airtight - heated stones placed in the centre and water over stones
- perspiration cleanses body and spirit - prayers and sacred pipe
are shared
Slide 8
* Subarctic to Great Lake Nations; to help solve problems *
Represents the connectedness of the supernatural world and the
living * It is through the shaking tent that one communicates with
the spirits * Construction: 4-8 poles in a circle shape with a
large hoop around the top and sometimes around the bottom; wrapped
in birch bark or hide * The top is left open to the skies to allow
spirits to enter * The Shaman performs the ritual and intercedes
with the spirits * Always takes place at night
Slide 9
Slide 10
Shaking Tent p. 40 - Subarctic and Great Lakes region -
supernatural world and relationship to living (communication) -4 to
8 poles, deep in soil, form a circle, wooden hoop at top and
bottom, wrapped in birch bark or hide - spirits can enter through
top - Shaman enters tent and intercedes with spiritsl asking to
solve problems, communicate with ancestor, locate missing people,
predict - night ceremony
Slide 11
Tree of Peace p. 41 - central symbol connecting earth to heaven
- impt in Sun Dance - White pine impt for Iroquois - Peacemaker
said those that gather by great tree shall offer thanks to earth -
Cedar tree impt for West Coast groups (turned into totem
poles)
Slide 12
Sour Springs Longhouse p. 47 - on Six Nations Reserve
(Brantford), name because of sulphurous taste in water - ceremonial
centre since 1855 - followers practice teachings of Handsome Lake -
concept of duality; two main clans are Turtle and Wolf - Those
within a clan are brothers and sisters - When entering the
longhouse, members of Wolf clan enter west door; Turtle clan enter
east - seating changes depending on ceremony and longhouse -
sometimes one clan opens while other closes
Slide 13
Powwow - blue text p. 84 - dance of renewal, restoration, right
relationships - community celebration of song and dance, identity,
heritage, language - circle: enter from east (sun rises), and move
in clockwise direction (as sun) - blessed by spiritual leader -
drumbeat represents rhythm of creation/heart of mother earth/heart
of womb
Slide 14
Smudging ceremony blue text p. 79 - holy act that is part of
many rituals - sacred herbs are burned in shell/bowl, and smoke is
brushed or washed over eyes, mouths, ears, hand, heart, and whole
being - cleansing smoke can be used to purify people and places -
ashes are considered holy - as sign of respect, ashes are returned
to earth in area where they will not be walked on
Slide 15
Medicine wheel blue text pp. 88-89 - circle represents
continuous cycle of life and connection among all species - cross
points in the four directions - power of the four directions
organize everything that exists (seasons, races, elements, stages,
personality etc) - elders use medicine wheel as tool for teaching
younger generations (re: who they are, come from, place in world,
how they are related to each other and all that
lives/breathes)
Slide 16
Sacred pipe ceremony blue text p. 80 - one of most powerful and
sacred rituals - pipe = unity and harmony - smoking the pipe is to
give back to world - before lighting the pipe, carrier prays that
whole universe be transferred to the pipe - then when lit,
everything is in the fire or Great Spirit; dissolved in the unity
of the Great Spirit - stone bowl of pipe represents truth - stem
represents way we are to live in harmony and balance with creation
- stem and bowl unity = male and female balance and unity - all
elements are used
Slide 17
Harvest feast blue text p. 84 - celebrate harvest from field
and forest - spirits have helped by providing food - ask to renew
earth through prayers, chants, dances - impt festival to farmers
(adopted by non-Aboriginals who call this thanksgiving)