Practices, Rituals, Symbols,

and FestivalsEvery spring, Ojibwa of southern Ontario perform the Morning Dance (Wabeno).

Pays homage to the “tree of the universe.”

Participants fast and cleanse themselves beforehand.

Elder plays a drum and leads the dance in a clearing around a tree.

Children, adults, and elderly dance from dawn to noon.

Each dancer touches the tree as they pass by to give thanks.

At midday, everyone eats a feast of meat and fish.

Sun DanceGreat Plains nations hold summer festival over 8 – 16 day period.

Banned by Canadian government in 1880s.

Ceremony identified the circle as important symbol and acknowledges the sun as the giver of life.

Sun DanceParticipants dance for long periods around central wooden pole or “tree of the universe.”

Face sun and pay homage to the sun’s life-giving powers.

Some dancers embed sharp wooden hooks deep into their chest and connect skewers to leather thongs that trail from the top of the wooden pole.

Sun DanceAs they dance, they pull back on the thongs and tear their flesh.

Resulting scars bear witness to their faith.

Dancers perform this ritual because they believe that the body is the only thing they control and can offer as a sacrifice to the Creator.

By enduring pain, others will not have to suffer famine, war, or disease.

Sun DancePrayers are said for all people and vows are made to the Great Spirit during Sun Dance.

Today, it is still practiced in Canada.

Potlatch CeremonyNorthwest Pacific Coast

nations practice this ceremony.

Banned by Canadian government in 1884.

Ban lifted in 1951.Feasting, distributing wealth, sharing songs and dances = Potlatch festival.

Potlatch Ceremony

Host gives a feast to celebrate important events: marriage, naming an heir, etc.

The more wealth the host gives away, the more that person gains in status and greatness.

Hosting clan grows in prestige.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_gYjQw9Bf4&feature=relmfu

Sweat LodgeCommon among Great Plains nations.

Renews the soul and helps regain focus.

Sweat lodge cleanses physical and spiritual body.

Under direction of shaman, medicine man and spiritual leader, participants make a sauna-like construction.

Sweat LodgeDome made of saplings.Covered in animal skins, cedar which make it dark and airtight.

Heated stones are placed in centre and water is sprinkled on stones.

Participants crowd around stones in confined space.

Sweat LodgeIntense heat and steam cause them to sweat profusely, cleanses the body physically and spiritually.

Prayers and a sacred pipe are shared.

Elder or shaman assists by coordinating the ceremony.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXFX5dXya5A

Shaking TentRitual used by Aboriginal groups all over Canada.

Represents beliefs and values of some about the supernatural world and its relationship with the living.

Through the shaking tent, one can communicate with the spirits.

Shaking TentConstructed using 4 – 8 poles, placed deep in the ground to form a circle about a meter in diameter.

Wooden hoop encircles the poles at top and bottom.

Cylindrical shape is wrapped in birch bark or hide.

Shaking TentIndividuals who have requested the ceremony make a trade with shaman.

He enters the tent and intercedes with spirits.

Asks spirits to solve problems such as finding lost object, communicating with ancestor, locating missing person, predicting outcome of an event.

Shaking TentAlways performed at night.

Read page 55: Smudging Ceremony

Milestones – Vision QuestRite of passage to adulthood.

Coming-of-age ceremony common to most Aboriginal nations.

Seeker of vision quest is purified, involves confession.

Occurs at sweat lodge.Medicine man instructs youth to go to a place far from camp.

Milestones – Vision Quest

Youth prays, fasts from food and water, and endures elements for several days, awaiting a “vision.”

Seeker hops to receive a message from a guardian spirit, who may appear in an animal, object, or other natural form.

If no vision is seen, person must try again.

Shaman will help interpret messages.

Read page 44.