Spiritual Protocols
Beliefs and Practices
What she said…
RELIGION IS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE
SCARED OF GOING TO HELL.
SPIRITUALITY IS FOR PEOPLE WHO
HAVE ALREADY BEEN THERE.
(Anonymous Indian woman who’s an alcoholic,
Redwire Magazine, )
Residential Schools
• Attendance at Indian Residential Schools in
Canada has had a tremendous effect on the
Spiritual Practices and Beliefs of Aboriginal
Peoples across Canada.
• There is varying adherence to Christianity and
Traditional Ways even in single communities.
• Native peoples have maintained their spiritual
beliefs and practices from “historic” times.
Pipe Ceremony
• Strong ceremonial protocols among Indigenous
peoples made the negotiation of peace and
friendship treaties and relationship building with
the British and French possible.
• The European brought long standing protocols to
the Americas which mirrored Indigenous practice.
• Native peoples have upheld those protocols and
still speak of “polishing the silver covenant chain”
of 1676 and maintaining positive relations.
• A Seneca Speaker said, “Let the chaine be kept
cleane and bright as silver that the great tree
that is cannot break it a peeces if it should fall
upon it (sic).”
• The covenant chain continued until 1753 when
Mohawks, claiming to have been cheated out
of lands rightfully theirs, declared that the
chain was broken.
Elders
• Elders must be offered tobacco when you ask
them to share their knowledge.
• Please note, it is very important to be specific in
making your request.
• If they cannot help you, they will say so and not
accept the tobacco. You may then ask for a
referral.
• This exchange is similar to a contract between two
parties and creates spiritual obligations on both
sides.
• When giving tobacco, place it in front of the
elder and state your request.
• If you hand it directly to them, you remove
their choice.
• The elder will indicate acceptance of your
request by picking it up.
• Always speak to the tobacco BEFORE placing
the tobacco before them.
Tobacco
• Tobacco is one of the sacred medicines of our
people. A tobacco tie is simply the making of a
small sacred bundle if you will to hold the tobacco.
A tobacco tie is made with a small square of 100%
cotton (usually red) cloth and it is tied with either
a narrow strip of 100% cotton cloth or a narrow
piece of red ribbon. Making a tie for the tobacco
makes it easier to carry on your person, to make
an offering of tobacco to another person, and to
hold on to for longer periods of time.
• Offerings of loose tobacco are made as well, in
particular to the Sacred Fire.
Tobacco Ties
Tobacco Protocols
• Tobacco has been used for many generations as
offerings to the spirits, for planting, for gathering
food, for healings and for ceremonies. The sacred
uses of tobacco are different for many tribes but a
basic truth remains, tobacco should be used for
prayer, protection, respect and healings.
• Tobacco is medicine. The meaning of medicine can
be translated according to perceptions, i.e. power
from the creator and/or knowledge of self.
Offerings
• On the question of obtaining guidance and help
from an elder, it is the one asking for guidance in
his or her journey, by protocol, who makes the
request for the opening prayer and gives the
tobacco to the elder or spiritual advisor.
• The giving of tobacco should not be delegated to
the adjudicator. “You cannot withdraw from your
own protocol.”
• Therefore, the claimant must present the tobacco.
Sacred Colours
• There are four colours that are most frequently
used, but again this may vary across Turtle Island.
• East – Yellow (Eagle) Attitudes and Insights
• South – Red (Mouse) Feelings and Integration
• West – Black (Bear) Developing the Mind/Soul
• North – White (Buffalo) Maintaining the Positive
• Smudging is a ritual way to cleanse a person ,
place or an object of negative energies, spirits
or influences. The smudging ceremony
involves the burning of special, sacred plants
and herbal resins, then, either passing an
object through the resulting smoke, or fanning
the smoke around a person or place. The spirit
of the plant then purifies whatever is being
smudged.
Smudge materials
Smudge Cleansing
• The Sweat Lodge provides a purification of the
Mind, Body and Spirit.
• It is a returning to the womb experience that
allows the cleansing of spirit and a new
beginning, a form of re-birth. It remains a
powerful force for clarity and positive change.
• There are many protocols across Turtle Island
for this cleansing ritual, you may request
instruction if you are invited to participate.
Sweat Lodges
Contemporary Lodge
Long Houses
• Longhouses are long and narrow bark covered houses that the
Haudenosuanee (People of the Longhouse), also known as the
Iroquois, lived in until the latter part of the 1800's. These homes
contained one large extended family. All the women and children
living in a longhouse were of the same clan.
• Longhouses had two doors and no windows. One door was
located on each end of the longhouse. Numerous longhouses in
an area created a village. The village was sometimes protected
from intruders by a palisade (an 18 ft. tall wooden fence).
• The Haudenosaunee planted gardens around their homes. They
planted foods like corn, beans, and squash. They also hunted
game and birds, they fished, and they gathered wild plants,
berries, seeds, and nuts.
Historic Long House
• There are many places of ceremony and ritual
across Canada, in many different structures
and places.
• The Haudonasaunee Long House remains an
active place of spiritual sustenance in the
Iroquoian community.
• There are many teachings, clan protocols, and
historical oratory and condolence ceremonies
held in the Long House today.
Contemporary LH
• The Native people of British Columbia also use
a Long House for their ceremonies, but there is
is often called a “Big House” and Potlatch
(give ways) are held there by families.
• In BC, in simplified terms, the more you give
away to your community, the higher your
stature as a family goes.
• There are songs, dances, masks, and important
protocols for passing on practice and belief.
Historic BC Big House
Modern BC Big House
• The Midewiwin (also spelled Midewin and
Medewiwin) or the Grand Medicine Society is a
secretive religion of the aboriginal groups of
the Maritimes, New England and Great Lakes
regions in North America. Its practitioners are
called Midew and the practices of Midewiwin
referred to as Mide. Occasionally, male Midew
are called Midewinini, which sometimes is
translated into English as either "shaman" or
"medicine man".
Midewiwin Shaman
Teaching Scrolls
• Called wiigwaasabakoon in the Anishinaabe
language, birch bark scrolls were used to pass
on knowledge between generations. These
scrolls were described as very sacred and the
interpretations of the scrolls were not easily
given away. The historical areas of the Ojibwe
were recorded on scrolls, and stretched from
the east coast all the way to the prairies by
way of lake and river routes.
Shaking Tent
• Design of the jiisakiiwigaan ("'juggler' lodge"
or "Shaking Tent" or traditionally "shaking
wigwam") is similar in construction as that of
the mide-wiigiwaam.
• Unlike a mide-wiigiwaam that is an oval domed
structure, the jiisakiiwigaan is a round highdomed structure of typically 3 feet in diameter
and 6 feet in height, and large enough to hold
two to four people.
Medicine Wheels
• A Medicine Wheel is a physical manifestation
of Spiritual energy. An outward expression of
an internal dialogue. A mirror in which we can
better SEE what is going on within us.
• It is a wheel of protection and enables us, and
allows us, to gather surrounding energies into
a focal point and to commune with Spirit, Self
and Nature.
• (ALL elemental forces)........Creation!
Ancient Medicine Wheel
Modern Cree MW
• Seven fires prophecy is a prophecy originally
taught among the practitioners of Midewiwin.
Each fire represents a prophetical age, marking
phases, or epochs, in the life of the people on
Turtle Island (North America). The Seven fires
prophecy represent key spiritual teachings for
North America, and suggest that the different
colors and traditions of the human beings can
come together on a basis of respect. The
Algonquins are the keepers of the seven fires
prophecy wampum.
Seven Values
• 1.
Courage (Bravery)
• 2.
Respect
• 3. Humility
• 4. Truth
• 5. Honesty
• 6. Love
• 7.
Wisdom