Episode #10 Native Lands

Once crossing the threshold into the Sacred Native Lands everything around you now feels different; a good, peaceful and calm feeling. You immediately start absorbing energy around you, giving you a form of rejuvenation within your soul. As though being lifted to a higher form of spirituality, a better understanding of all living things.

Jordan on the other hand seems more interested in what she can see around her, “Wow, isn’t this an amazing place! Look at all the people dressed in those awesome outfits!” “Outfits, Jordan? They aren’t wearing outfits, they are wearing Indian regalia, such as Jingle Dresses and Grass Dresses worn during ceremonies for healing dancing. But yes, they sure are beautiful, aren’t they?”

In the distance can be seen a large handmade altar built in a circular shape. Twelve-foot-high tree trunks have been secured deep in the ground standing straight up about twenty feet apart completing a circle. Within this circle is a second circle of tree trunks about twenty feet across from other tree trunks. Atop these tree trunk lays another tree trunk attaching to one another. Making it look like an arbor with branches draped over it giving shade for those standing and dancing below.

In the center of the circle a large, deep hole has been dug, waiting for something to be maybe planted there? Many Indian women and men roam freely around this altar, none seem to enter its center. They are dressed in beautiful regalia; women are wearing bright colorful jingle dresses. Made from fabric in solid healthy colors, such as red, green, yellow, black and blue. Each dress is enhanced with jingles made from chewing tobacco can lids, rolled into cones. These cones are attached to the sleeves, the top and one, two or three rows of jingles on the bottom of their dresses.

Men are wearing gorgeous brightly colored grass dresses. These male dresses are different then a regular pow wow dancer’s dress, as this dress does not have feathers instead, they consist, of brightly colored fringe made from yarn or ribbon. Instead of wearing a headdress these dancers carry feather fans, scarves, dream catchers, hoops and dance sticks.

You and Jordan continue walking, meeting a group of others who have gathered with an Elder at a campfire. He offers for you both to join him and the others before he begins to share his knowledge of a Sun Dance. Thrilled to learn more, you jump at the chance, sitting next to the Elder. Jordan follows suit, sitting next to you.

You listen intensely to the Elder’s every word, “While on sacred lands you will be attending a Sundance over the next four days. You will need to learn how to build a teepee, giving you a place to sleep while you are here; food will be provided. There are rules you should follow to avoid unnecessary incidents with roaming spirits.

During my Sundance, the East gate has been opened to allow all spirits opportunity to roam these sacred lands freely. One must not cross over this gate or they will disappear, if you witness such a thing, please do not cross that gate even if only to help another.”

A smile spreads across your face, imagining all your family and friends who have passed coming to visit with you through the East gate. How you will welcome them with open arms, feeling their energy with your embrace!

The Elder continues, “A Sundance is a ceremony of healing. Male Dancers will pierce their body with buffalo bones, tying them with ropes to the Sacred Tree, dancing until they break free: a way to sacrifice for the healing of others. Female dancers will dance around them to give support. All will fast, and a feast will be offered to all, at the end of this four-day ceremony. There will be a sacred tree cutting, a sweat lodge, a healing ceremony, a ghost dance and also a clown dance for any wanting to attend.

We will begin this journey with the cutting of the Sacred Tree at which time, all will be allowed in the center of the altar circle, for an opportunity to tie your offerings to the Sacred tree. An offering is a small amount of tobacco, wrapped in a colored cloth. There will be different colors of cloth for all to choose from. Offerings, you must bring yourself. It is particularly important to remember one must give to receive back, this includes Mother Earth as well.”

Your mind fills with many thoughts of what these next four days will entail. As excitement continues to bubble deep inside you, wonder what a Ghost Dance is and why they would have a Clown Dance. You think to yourself, good thing I’m a smoker, I have tobacco for both me and Jordan for your offerings.

He continues, “I can tell if a person is addicted to alcohol because I can see their torso on fire. I can tell if a person is addicted to drugs because they are on fire from their waist down. You are neither.” “Wow, that’s amazing, I wish I could do that.”

The Elder just smiles at you.

“Am I seeing things? That looks like a prairie dog dancing the jig?” Pointing at the ground in front of you. Elder responds back, “You are very clairvoyant.”

Not quite sure what he means, you think to yourself, that sounds like a compliment, I better look that up when I get home. Smiling back at him, “Thanks!” Elder stands, you stand, he reaches over placing his right hand on your shoulder, “We shall talk later.” Smiling, he then says, “Goodbye.” Walks away from the campfire.

Everyone there is noticeably quiet, still sitting around the campfire, you ask Jordan, “What are you doing? Didn’t you listen to him, we should go make a teepee right away, so we have somewhere to sleep for the next four days!”

Jordan looks completely bewildered, “What are you talking about? The only time the Elder spoke was when he stood up and put his hand on your shoulder. Then he said something to you about how you will talk later, then said goodbye to us.”

What? That doesn’t make any sense to you, the Elder said a lot more than that! , “Seriously Jordan, that’s all you heard?” “Yes, that’s all I heard! Now what’s this about a teepee?”

Thoughts of what the Elder had shared with you run through your mind, thinking, what just happened? Did I just speak with him through our minds? Wow, how amazing is that!

You explain, “Jordan we need to build a teepee for a place to sleep because we are now attending a four-day Sundance!” With excitement in her voice Jordan says, “Well we had better go check out over there then.” Pointing to a large teepee.

Making your way to a large teepee you admire how the dark green grass looks like it has been painted on its rolling hills. With bees buzzing in wildflowers as they dance in the wind, birds singing and swooping gracefully above the ground, there’s not a worry on your mind. You begin running through the grass, dancing with the flowers, using your arms as if wings, pretending to fly with the birds.

Jordan can be heard giggling, joining you in the field, “This is amazing! I love it here! I wish we could stay here forever!” Pretending to fly by you with her arms out and head down.

Before too long you arrive at the large teepee, seeing the same Elder sitting in front of yet another campfire, you sit next to him, with Jordan at your side. You do not speak, unless spoken to, as a way to show respect.

He begins, “Welcome. I will be helping you all to build a teepee to live in while staying here over the next four days. I will be sure to explain how to construct the teepee while we build it. But, before that, I would like to take this opportunity to explain what the meaning is behind a teepee. Come let’s walk through this teepee while I explain.” He stands and walks into the large teepee.

Everyone stands, following him inside. He continues to explain, “As you can see, animal skin is used for the walls of a teepee, giving warmth in the winter and coolness in the summer. This animal skin is most times from buffalo, it is laid on a conical frame of long poles opening at the top for ventilation, and it has a flap door.

In the center of the teepee is a campfire, if you look above, you can see how there is a vent at the top of the teepee; this will keep smoke from staying inside of the teepee. The shape of a teepee helps to protect it from the winds, plus the Ancient Indian’s believe power works in circles. They also believed a fixed home was unhealthy, allowing opportunity to move their home at anytime to any place on the land.”

He begins to walk out of the teepee, you all quickly follow, he continues, “Now we will begin making your teepee, we have everything laid out to save you some time. All you will need to do is work together and follow instructions. This should be easy since we have four people in this group.”

You look around for who the other two people might be, seeing only Jordan, the Elder and a Native woman smiling back at you. You keep listening as the woman walks closer to you and Jordan.

Elder says, “We will need this previously cut canvas and about twelve poles, which are three feet longer than the width of the canvas. When assembling it, we need forty-five feet of rope and porcupine quills to fix any open part of the canvas covering.”

You lay them out on the ground and listen for more instruction, “First we will be laying out a tripod by crossing poles. Lay two down, right next to each other and lay a third across first two, creating an acute angle at top; about 30 degrees. The two poles next to each other will be your corner poles, while the crossing pole will be the ‘door pole’. At this point you will need to use about six feet of rope, making a clove hitch knot twice, putting the attached rope aside.

A clove hitch knot is made like this: Make a turn around a pole and bring the working end back over the standing part. Continuing around behind the pole, you then pass the working end over the standing part and then under the riding turn and standing part, forming an overhand knot under a riding turn. Making sure the ends merge between the two turns, pulling firmly on the ends to tighten.”

You watch his every move making sure to get it right the first try, the woman comes by checking and helping if needed. She then moves into the center of the area where the teepee is being made, grabbing the extra rope in her hands. The Elder requests, “Would you two please join Abbe in the center and pull the two poles apart about nine feet from each other?”

You and Jordan do as request, while pulling poles apart Abbe is pulling on the rope, lifting the poles causing the back two poles to be like a cradle for the front door pole. The tighter she pulls the rope the sturdier it becomes, making more of an Isosceles triangle. Abbe then puts the sturdiest pole by the door pole.

“Great job! Next we will be laying in more poles by moving in a counterclockwise direction around the tripod and tying them down.”

Picking up a sturdy pole, the Elder starts using the pole to raise the ones he is laying in directly to the right of the door pole. As you make your way around the tripod laying or adding in poles, you notice he has taken you around over and over until there is only one pole left; the one he has been lifting all the others with the sides between the door and each corner now have five poles each. The backside between the two corner poles have four poles each, plus the sturdy pole leaving space for that in center of the backside.

Abbe leaves, returning with the previously cut teepee buffalo skin, laying it out next to the door pole. She attaches one side to the door pole, motioning for us to pick up the other side of the skin. The Elder joins us and we all stretch the skin around the teepee ending on the opposite side of the door pole. He then leaves and returns with two long, thin poles that he uses to insert into the flaps at the top of teepee to open venting, a second one he inserts into the edge of the door flap, staking it into the ground.

He continues to explain, “We will now gather dirt from digging a campfire pit and place it around the base of the outside of the teepee walls. Once you are done with that, Abbe will be helping you fill your new home with what you will need while staying with us. Enjoy your stay.” He leaves with Abbe.

Without even a thought you say, “Wow Jordan, isn’t this awesome? I have never been so excited in my entire life! I can hardly wait to check out all this stuff we get to do over the next four days.”

Jordan still confused asks, “Okay, can you explain to me why it is that you can hear the Elder and I can’t?” Also confused, “What, didn’t you hear him this time either?”

Jordan walks towards the teepee, “Come on let’s go inside and talk. I heard him talk to us about the teepee, but that’s it! I didn’t hear him talk like you did that first time we met him.”

“To be honest Jordan, I had no idea you couldn’t hear him, I thought everybody could hear him. I really don’t know why only I could hear him. He did tell me lots of interesting things though. I figure it will help us over the next four days. Two main things you need to remember for sure while you are here are, don’t step over the East Gate and you always need to give to receive, and that includes Mother Earth as well.”

Jordan instantly asks, “East Gate, what is that? And where is it?”

“Elder advised me that he has opened the East Gate for Spirits to roam freely during his Sundance.” You walk back outside with Jordan following in your footsteps. Continuing, “So this is going East, which tells me we better not go past these bushes next to your teepee.” Realizing they have helped, you and Jordan set up your teepee right next to the East Gate.

Before you can even get anxious about what you just figured out, Abbe returns with many items in her arms. Racing over you both assist her, grabbing everything she has brought with her. She smiles, turns around and walks off to get more items. You and Jordan take what she handed over into the teepee, finding four different buffalo hides and a handful of wraps around skirts and shirts.

You take one of the buffalo hides tossing it on the floor to use as a bed with a second one on top for a blanket. They are heavy and warm! Jordan follows suit making herself a bed as well. Abbe returns this time with what you will need to make meals. A pot and frying pan to place on the campfire for cooking, a kettle to hang over the campfire to boil water. She then motions for you and Jordan to follow her.

Abbe takes you to her teepee located only a few steps away, where she loads both your arms and Jordan’s arms with a variety of fresh foods. Making your way back to your own teepee to make some supper.

“Jordan, what kind of food did you bring back with you?” “Lots! Fresh bannock, some fresh grapes and fresh apples, also some mint for tea and some butter. What did Abbe give you?”

“Lots too! Deer sausage, fresh carrots, fresh peas, fresh corn on the cob, fresh potatoes, some spices and some strawberries.” “It’s going to be a busy day tomorrow we are going to check out a Sweat Lodge, we should probably head off to bed after supper.”

You and Jordan make an awesome meal, clean up and head off to bed. Morning comes early, you can hear someone in the teepee stoking the fire and sausage sizzling as it fries. Rolling over you see the smile of Abbe while she is making breakfast. She never really says much but her smile sure does brighten up any room she is in. After breakfast you and Jordan clean up and head on down to the Altar to be apart of a Sweat Lodge!

Jordan quickly makes her way to the teepee marked with a sign tied to a wooden stake, ‘Please enter for Sweat Lodge’. You follow behind, captivated by how peaceful and tranquil it feels around you. Once inside the teepee, again a Native man offers you and Jordan a place to sit with others who have already arrived, this man is much younger then the Elder. He wears blue and green color beaded regalia, with a beaded, hawk feather headdress.

He speaks, “Welcome to my teepee. Today you all will have a chance to enjoy the experience of a Sweat Lodge. Our Elder will explain what a Sweat Lodge is and how it is used. Once you understand what will happen, we will begin the Sweat. If you all can follow me, please.” He leaves the teepee.

Following the young man, he takes you all to what looks like a small hut, made with sapling willow branches and buffalo skins. Displaced dirt has been piled outside the door making an altar. On the East side of the lodge a pit has been dug containing a special fire for the Grandfathers or rocks. This fire is built in a pyramid pile, covered with kindling looking like a teepee with opening facing door to the lodge. Many red-hot Grandfathers lay in this pit only to be used once inside the second pit, which is dug in the center of the Sweat Lodge.

The same Elder you have come across often is the one to share his knowledge of the Sweat Lodge. He stands in front of the altar saying, “If you have anything you would like blessed, please place it here on this altar before entering the Lodge. Also, if you would like to bring water and or a towel into my Sweat feel free, but no other items are allowed thank you. My fire keeper will let you know once it is safe to enter.” He begins smudging himself with a feather and sage entering the Lodge.

The younger man waits for the Elder to choose which Grandfather he wants first, taking it into the Lodge and placing it into the second pit. Once the first Grandfather has been placed the fire keeper is told by the Elder which remaining Grandfathers are to be picked for the round, one at a time, placing them where the Elder directs. The Elder then welcomes you all into the Sweat Lodge, men first, sitting north moving clockwise, women follow sitting on the south side. Once all enter and the water container passed to Elder by fire keeper, he calls for the door to be closed.

Elder begins to speak, “Hi my name is Thor, and I am an Elder, I am a medicine man, and my sweat lodge is for healing purposes. Such as myself or like some others who may call your God Buddha, I call my God, The Creator. I am not like some Elders, as I believe we all pray to the same God, he only carries a different name.”

There is absolutely no light inside the Sweat Lodge, all your other senses have become very enhanced. The smell of cedar lingers in the air as you hear the sizzle of water being splashed on the glow of red-hot Grandfathers in the center of the lodge. With an aroma of sage filling your space you listen to what sounds like the Elder chanting in a language you do not understand.

Your body begins to relax, all pain and tension has begun to release it’s self, giving a clarity in your mind. You allow your thoughts to be that of only what you hear. Again, water sizzles when splashed on the Grandfathers, the Sweat Lodge fills with steam. Elder begins to speak in English, “Please, if anyone wants to speak or pray you are free to do so.”

At this point you think of how doctors have never been able to figure out your own illness, saying in your mind a personal prayer, “I pray for healing of this illness I cannot continue to fight. It has taken over my world, please give me freedom from this endless physical pain.” You lay down with your towel in front of you and a bottle of water in your hand, enjoying this time of no pain.

The Elder splashes more water on the Grandfathers making it hotter and steamier each time, which reminds you of being in a sauna. You lay there with your eyes closed listening. Elder speaks, “Within my Sweat Lodge we have spirits roaming freely. One has informed me there is a nonbeliever here today. The spirit wants to play with you, in a nice way. So, the one who does not believe will feel a towel with the print of a sailboat on it, owned by a true believer, being placed over his shoulders.”

You know that is your towel! Reaching out to feel if it is still there, it’s gone! Within the same second of time, you heard a voice of a young man, “Wow! Okay, I believe!” Next thing you know, you can feel your towel being placed over your own shoulders. You smile and lay back down, relaxing immediately.

The Elder calls for the door to be opened stating, “I am opening the door so if there were anyone who would like to step out and walk around, have a drink of water, or if you prefer to stay outside you can sit next to the Sweat Lodge until we are finished.

I will let you know when it is time to return.”

You all crawl out following the Elder, once outside you and Jordan stretch your legs drinking some water. Neither of you speak, rather you just enjoy feeling rejuvenated, aching to go back in the Sweat Lodge. Not more than five minutes passes when the Elder returns, standing in front of the Lodge, “Those who are interested in returning to the Sweat Lodge will be informed by the Fire Keeper when it is safe to enter.” He crawls back into the Lodge.

Fire Keeper brings in more Grandfathers, placing them where the Elder requested, motioning for all to enter once finished. Again, you enter sitting south after all others have entered. Laying down again getting comfortable, placing your towel under your head for a pillow, putting your bottle of water on the ground next to yourself. Sound of water sizzling on red hot rocks fills the air with the smell of cedar and sage joining in.

I love Sweat Lodges and this one is amazing,

to continue with your Sweat Lodge open EPISODE #34

Just a piece of advice, if you are wanting to check another episode out feel free just be aware they do not necessarily take you where you might think you are going. And they sure are not in any set order! Enjoy and have fun! Good Luck!