Presented by Holly Greene Lindsey Rasmussen Kim Roemer
Slide 2
To give you a glimpse into what the Native American way of life
was about, prior to the arrival European Americans. Some topics we
will be presenting are: Spirituality, food, and survival. Some
customs/traditions. We will conclude with counseling
implications.
Slide 3
There are multiple Native American tribes and although some
were similar, others were vastly different. Some of the ceremonies,
traditions, and ways of life varied from tribe to tribe. To be
culturally competent you would want to learn the specifics of what
is important and practiced by your client.
Slide 4
FRUITS, NUTS, SEEDS, ETC.PEMMICAN Goji berries Corn Saguaro
cactus Barrel cactus fruit Red-seeded watermelons Wild walnuts,
apples, and grapes Wild game and fish Domesticated beans
Pemmican
Slide 5
Rawhide, which was strong and durable and was used to make
shields, trunks, envelope like cases to carry things, moccasin
soles, knife sheaths, snowshoes, bridles, stirrups, saddles, and
saddlebags.
Slide 6
Born on the Heider farm in Janesville Wisconsin in 1994 and
died in 2004. In her lifetime she turned the 4 predicted colors of
white, black, brown, and red. Floyd Hand, an elder of the Lakota
predicted her birth.
Slide 7
Almost all Native American traditions stress the necessity of
personally experiencing that which is sacred. This could be done
by: 1. Entheogenic substances such as Peyote. When used, had to be
done so with great respect and sincerity. 2. Seeking visions
through fasting. 3. Running long distances.
Slide 8
This is a celebration of creation and life, when a young woman
would reach puberty. Women are thought of as sacred because they
have the ability to bring forth life. http://www.youtube.
com/watch?v=WLiKv TQkc90 http://www.youtube. com/watch?v=WLiKv
TQkc90
Slide 9
Focus is on healing the person (making him/her whole) instead
of curing disease Based on belief that everything and everyone is
interconnected and has a spirit or essence Illness stems from
spiritual problems (i.e. person is unbalanced, has negative
thinking, and/or lives an unhealthy lifestyle) Healing practices
try to restore balance, wholeness, and a spiritually pure
state
Slide 10
More than 500 Native American Nations (or tribes) so healing
practices vary considerably Information on healing practices
general and limited because sacred traditions kept secret and
passed from healer to healer Common rituals and practices Herbal
remedies Purifying and cleansing body Symbolic rituals Treatment a
slow process
Slide 11
Lakota Plains Healers: Bear Dreamer Society; anyone cured
became member Leader: he who has bear dream and knows bear medicine
Eastern Woodlands Healer: medicine man Used herbs not rituals
Northwest Costal Healer: shaman Ritual: psychotherapeutic approach
Southeastern/Cherokee Healer: medicine man Importance of examining
the beads and proper formula for healing Navajo Healer: shaman
Importance of corn pollen and corn meal
Slide 12
Not proven to cure disease but reports suggest it can reduce
pain, stress and improve quality of life Very few studies support
validity of Native American healing because its based on
spirituality Difficult to study because practices vary too much
between tribes, healers, and illnesses Many Native Americans do not
want practices studied because they believe sharing it exploits
their culture and weakens their power to heal
Slide 13
Dream are sacred and guidance given in dream message must be
respected Dreams contain crucial information that defines ones
destiny, indicate route to be taken, and even cure disease Dream
catchers originated with the Ojibwa (also known as the Chippewa) to
protect children from nightmares How do dream catchers work? Bad
dreams are trapped in the web and good ones pass through to the
sleeper Or, web catches good dreams and lets the bad one pass
through the hole
Slide 14
Slide 15
Common practice among tribes in southwest because of summer
droughts Ritual performed in mid to late August, driest month of
the year Men and women wore special outfits and performed the dance
together, in hopes it would bring desperately needed rain Many
southwestern tribes still perform this ritual today
Slide 16
Slide 17
Smudging has been used for centuries to create a cleansing
smoke bath used to purify the body, aura, energy, space, or
personal article Performed to remove negative energy and for
centering/healing Sacred plants are burned, each with special
powers: tobacco, sage, cedar, sweet grass, juniper, and lavender
Plant(s) placed in shell/fireproof bowl, lit, and smoke wafted
around oneself/environment with a feather, fan, or hand Do NOT blow
smoke Blows ones negativity into the mixture Blows away
effectiveness of the plant(s)
Slide 18
Slide 19
Powwow literally means the one who has visions; term also used
to describe a meeting of different tribes or the title given to the
shaman conducting the ceremony To understand significance of the
powwow in todays Native American culture, you must understand its
origins Believe when the world was created, each tribe given a
unique relationship with the world and faith strengthened through
connection with earth In times of need/sickness, would turn to
nature and hold meeting to pray, sing, and dance Europeans assumed
the term powwow referred only to the dance but was the word used to
described the spiritual leaders conducting the ceremony Powwows
later used to resolve conflict and prepare/protect warriors Some
traditional communities still practice powwows to honor their
ancestors and preserve their heritage; often resemble powwows of
the 1600s
Slide 20
Powwow literally means the one who has visions; term also used
to describe a meeting of different tribes or the title given to the
shaman conducting the ceremony To understand significance of the
powwow in todays Native American culture, you must understand its
origins Believe when the world was created, each tribe given a
unique relationship with the world and faith strengthened through
connection with earth In times of need/sickness, would turn to
nature and hold meeting to pray, sing, and dance Europeans assumed
the term powwow referred only to the dance but was the word used to
described the spiritual leaders conducting the ceremony Powwows
later used to resolve conflict and prepare/protect warriors Some
traditional communities still practice powwows to honor their
ancestors and preserve their heritage; often resemble powwows of
the 1600s
Slide 21
Pay attention and listen Never refer to a Native American
dancers regalia as a costume Never touch a dancers regalia Never
enter the Dance Arbor after it has been blessed Never record a
Native American drum without permission Alcohol and/or drugs are
not permitted at powwows Respect everyone, especially elders, and
watch out for children
Slide 22
Slide 23
Is there anything wrong with saying, Some of my best friends
are Indians?
Slide 24
Has alcohol always been apart of the Native American Culture?
If not when do you think it became an epidemic?
Slide 25
Do all Indians have a drinking problem?
Slide 26
Is there a solution to substance abuse in Indian culture?
Slide 27
What are the numbers exactly?
Slide 28
American Cancer Society (2008). Native American healing.
Retrieved from http://www.cancer.org. Butterfield, B. (2010).
Rituals, beliefs, and customs of Native American culture. Retrieved
from http://bonniebutterfield.com/indian-culture.htm. Native
American powwow (2012). Retrieved from http://native-
net.org/na/native-american-powwow.html. Native American rain dance
(2012). Retrieved from http://native-
net.org/na/native-american-rain-dance.html. Paper, J. (2007).
Native north american religious traditions : dancing for life. West
Port, CT: Praeger publishers. Pickering, R. B. (1997). Seeing the
white buffalo. Boulder, CO: Johnson Printing. Schultz, B. (2011).
Native American powwow etiquette. Retrieved from
http://www.powwow-power.com/powwowetiquette.htm. Schultz, B.
(2011). Smudging ceremony. Retrieved from
http://www.powwow-power.com/smudging.html. Wolfe, D. (2009).
Superfoods : The food and medicine of the future. Berkeley, CA:
North Atlantic Books.