Native American Ceremony

Author's note: Years ago, I was in a meeting when some women who came down from the tar sands in Canada had come to speak with women about our water being in trouble.

They said it was important for our families, for their future, and for all of us. And that it is the women's job to care for the water.

From that day back in the late seventies, early eighties, I have followed that call for action. In 1978, as Native American people we got our religious freedom back, it was a start for me. Prior to that time practicing the cultural beliefs were underground and outlawed.

The first time I participated in a smudging ceremony was when I was 11 or 12, some twelve years prior to our religious freedom. It was with hippies. The man holding the smudge bowl said, "It cleans your aura man." I had no idea what an aura was back then. I smudge regularly now.

The other thing I attended yearly was the powwow. As a young child, I went to Red Lake for the powwow yearly with my family.

The first gathering with religious freedom was the full moon ceremonies, where women could get together and sing, talk and pray. I attended those.

I next attended sunrise ceremony, pipe ceremonies, and sweat lodge. My mother taught that sweat lodge was for men as women had their time of the month to cleanse.

I liked my mother's story of sweat lodge until a traditional healer told me that because of all that was going on for our people it would be important to attend sweat lodge. By that time the heat would trigger rapid heartbeat for me and I would have to go to the hospital to convert it.

She said I would be okay and when I went with her I was. Even when my heart would take off, she would calm it. When she died, I no longer participated.

Today, I attend water ceremony most Sundays, at 9:00 a.m. That is the time set for all around the country for those that are praying for the water at the same time.

Those woman emphasized that water is an all women concern, even though the ceremony is Ojibwe, it is for all women. The songs, the rituals, the carrying of the water. Men are welcome to participate too. It is just the women that carry the water.

Water is life

It helps with strife

When busy all the time

I remember to rhyme

~~

You can get grounded

by being surrounded

by water and nature

such an adventure

~~

Go by the water and begin

by placing your hand then your feet in

Listen to the water, give up your troubles

all the things that weigh heavy on you

give them to the water, and feel abubbles

~~

Put your asema down

put it on the ground

put it in the water

put it by a tree

~~

Ask that it take all worries away

prayers and thoughts on this day

can be taken downstream by water

take it far away from you, farther

downstream, water is healing, so

stay close to the water. Water if life. Aho!

Last Sunday photo of friends and I with my granddaughter and greatgrand children at water ceremony, and it was a fun day. I bundled up, even though it was a warmer day, it had sprinkled and misted. So, I threw my hat on and hoods up.

Yesterday it was in the high 70s, and this weekend it is expected to get back into 20 degree weather. Spring isn't ever expected until May, but every once in a while it happens earlier for us.

I did walk around the house when I was greeting the sun this morning and saying my gratitude list and prayers. I spotted some small green leaves coming up. It is the perennials that are growing by the house. Some years they will even be peeking through the snow.

I am so thankful for our Native American culture teachings. Much has come above ground since 1978, when I was 24. Some has been lost, and some things never will come above ground.