Symbols and Meanings

SACRED SYMBOLS AND THEIR MEANINGS

May all who enter rest in peace and safety beneath my wings
May all who leave, take with them wings of comfort
(Tsimshian Prayer)

"They say we have been here for 60,000 years, but it is much longer. We have been here since the time before time begin. We have come directly out of the Dreamtime of the Creative Ancestors. We have lived and kept the earth as it was on the First Day."
(Anonymous Aboriginal Tribal Elder)

"The following sacred symbols have sustained Turtle Island's Indigenous for thousands of years. They offer health and healing and when used correctly and in the spirit of the Old Ones, knowledge, healing and emotional wellness can be profound. For this is the way of it....all my relations." (Thunderbird)

Air

“I am the Breath of Life and the male bridge between your mind and your body. I restore you to your exact self each time you take a breath. When you breathe, oxygen pours into your body cells. My breath exercises the diaphragm, and therefore the organs above and below it. Say aloud the word, “Hope”, the “H” rests on my breath. Breath is life Spirit. Hope keeps all pathways open for new possibilities & dreams. As long as you have hope, you have direction & with that, the energy to move forward. It puts you halfway to your goal of positive self-empowerment. Questions: Would you exist without me? What are some things you can do to keep me clean and healthy?

Copyrighted,Do NOT Use Without Permission ANIMALS

Indigenous attitudes toward animals was quite different from the Europeans. The Northwest coast peoples, for example, considered all fish, birds, land and sea mammals similar to human beings but with varying degrees of supernatural power. All of them were very powerful 'transformation figures' capable of taking human form; or better, they possessed a human form, and assumed their other forms when consorting with humans. The killer-whale for example was a canoe in which his human form was accustomed to traveling; There were salmon people, herring people and grizzly bear people. Buffalo was descended from White Buffalo Calf Woman, according to the Lakhota.

In Native stories frequent references were given to a time when animals were humans, gifted with the power of speech and other human attributes. The People believed that animals had souls which were immortal and they were reborn after death. Animals were considered the equals of humans in general intelligence, and surpassed humans in the particulars for which the animal in question was especially noted. For example, Eagles fly the highest of all living beings, and to have eyesight that can see into the soul. The Haudenosaunee call Eagle, 'Principle Messenger of the Creator'.

DREAMCATCHER

Anishinabe and Haudenosaunee symbol. If hung over your bed your bad dreams are filtered through the web and dissipate into the Universe; your good dreams remain caught in the web. Thunderbird thinks it is a shame to lose some of those bad dreams because those are the teaching dreams, and they have presented themselves because there are teachings and messages that need to be listened to. There is another school of thought that reverses the process by capturing the bad dreams and allowing the good ones ones to fly free. Thunderbird likes this version better, but maybe it is because she is a Dreaming Traditional Teacher. However, whatever the choice, Dreamcatchers works wonders with restless children.

STORY: It was a hot August day and Grandmother was sitting in her lodge making snowshoes for her grandson. The summer was the preparation time for the long winter ahead. Her grandson was visiting and playing at her feet. He said, "One day, I am going to a great hunter." She smiled and listened to the young one brag about his great exploits. All of a sudden he said, "Grandmother, Grandmother, don't move, many legs hangs above you and is about to strike, I am a great hunter and will kill it and destroy the web." Grandmother immediately cautioned the boy, "No, No, son, Many Legs is a great healer and teacher and weaves her teachings in her web. You must not kill her. Go out and play now." The young boy scampered off and Grandmother continued to work on the snowshoes. "You have done well, Grandmother," a soft voice spoke above her head. "You have saved me and understood my life. Listen and I will teach you how to make a web so that your dreams will be forever woven into the fabric of your life."

At Many Leg’s instruction, Grandmother gathered willow together and made a circle, it was not a perfect circle because Many Legs had advised her that each individual life would not be perfect. In other words, the wise one told her, " life is as you dream it. So dream good dreams."

Grandmother also wove a beautiful blue stone into the web as a symbol of Father Sky and the dreams that lay with the universe. "The good dreams will reside within the blue stone," said Spider, "to be visited often. The challenging dreams would be caught up in the web and burned in the morning sun." All My Relations. Kopet, that is all.

DRUM TEACHINGS HAS ITS OWN PAGE

EAGLE

It was the Haudenosaunee teachings that first explained that Eagle was the Principle Messenger of the Creator. Since then, it is now a universally accepted principle. Eagle flies the closest to Great Mystery and, therefore, can see the past, present and future at a glance. She sees the flow of change. She alerts us to the changes so that we can respond appropriately. Eagle is the great illuminator and soars above us all, sometimes out of sight to us, but never out of its own sight. Eagle sees and hears all and sits in the east on the Medicine Wheel with the direction of leadership and courage.

In other words, Eagle is connected both to the spirit of the Great Mystery and to the Earth and does both with ease. Eagle, therefore, is a powerful symbol of courage; that is why its feathers are such powerful tools for healing, and why there are special ceremonies for Eagle feathers. Eagle teaches us that it is okay to combine wisdom and courage -- it is okay to be wise enough to know that a change needs to be made in one's life and then finding the courage to execute the change. It is okay to gather our courage, for the universe presents us with opportunities to soar above the mundane levels of life; the test is the power to recognize opportunities. Do not, in other words, be afraid of the unknown.

Embracing wisdom and courage means to fly above life's difficulties and smell the tobacco from the sacred pipes!

EARTH

"I am the symbol of life and Father Sky’s mate. I am your heartbeat. I am the sacred connection and universal circle of life. Honour the seven directions (East, South, West, North, Life above, below and on the Earth). I created equality all you see, so honour me, do not waste me.

A teaching: “There are birds of many colours. Yet all is one bird. There are horses of many colours. Yet all is one horse, so all living things, Animals,Flowers and Trees, so all four races, with one heart that beats. That this should last and last and everywhere there’s peace.” Questions: Do you think about me in your daily life? Do you send me healing and love? Would you exist without me? What are some of the things you could do on a regular basis to keep me healthy? Why is caring for another so important?"

The root of all Native teachings, lies in the reverence for the land. Noo Halidzoks (Mother Earth) gave the Red People a special gift of Turtle Island (North America): They were charged with the responsibility of being Caretakers of this vast land and were given much wisdom and knowledge as regards its care and preservation. As an Elder once said, "We are the environment and the environment is us. We deal with all of nature as equal members of the universal family. We go to the mountain, we go into the mountain, we become the mountain - never trying to overcome it, but always being part of its energy."

There was a fundamental misunderstanding in the early dialogues between First Nations people and the Europeans who sought to purchase their land. The Indigenous Ancestors were mystified by such negotiations because the land was not something to be bought and sold. The land was the lifeblood of The People; its inherent sacredness lived in the souls of every member of the Red Race. It was to be kept in a good way, nourished and loved. In the words of Chief Sealth (also known as Seattle), "How can I sell what I do not own. It is only owned by that which created it in the first place."

The rest as they say is history, as the land was then simply taken from the First Peoples, and quickly became a marketable commodity by which great riches could be gained. As humans we need to look around and inside of ourselves and learn from this. It was never the intention of Noo Halidzoks for the land to have no meaning except for what it could bring monetarily.

"we are no bigger than grains of sand. Yet everyone is so unique and so different that there are no two alike. Each little grain of sand holds its own vibration. That is the beautiful part of walking on this pathway - Nature is always speaking to us, always reconfirming, telling us to pay attention, we are here for you. Connect Nature's gifts with humans walking the earth walk in a good way and the vibrations can change to constructive energy."

We need to embrace Noo Halidzoks with pureness, respect, truth, love, dignity, peace and constructive energy so that together we can save what is left of her. When we walk the walk with the twin elements of knowledge and courage, (knowledge of the importance of the Land to our living world, and courage to save it), all things are possible.

FIRE

“I am the Heart of the people. Warm with me, Dance with me, Cook with me, Hear my stories. I am cleansing and renewal. Out of my ashes comes new ways of thinking and behaving, The Plant world regenerates itself. I am a brilliant glow across the spectrum, I am candles, sparkles and colour. I am warm, male and light. I am heat, change and motion. I am witches, beacons and brightness. My smoke carries my prayers to The Ancestors. I am the eternal witness in sacred ceremony. The centre of life fueled by Mother Earths tresses, the trees. Don’t you misuse me. In the heart of all people, I am passion, I am love, I am rebirth…I am fire.” Question: What are some of the safe things we could together on a regular basis?

For most tribes, fire symbolizes the heart of The People. It is present at all ceremonies in one form or another, from smoke in a smudge bowl or pipe carrying prayers to Great Mystery, to the blazing fire at a Sun Dance or Potlatch. Fire cleanses the spirit, it is used to heat the Grandfathers (rocks) before placing them in the pit of a sweatlodge; the smoke from the fire is used to send prayers to the Great Mystery; fire cleanses sacred items before ceremonial use (drums, shakers, pipes).

Fire represents cleansing and renewal, for out of the ashes comes new growth, new thoughts, rebirth of ideas and new ways of being; the plant world regenerates itself in a healthy way from the ashes of the old.

Fire acts as a Messenger and is a gift from the Great Mystery. A ceremonial fire should never be extinguished manually, but allowed to dance until it decides it is time to go to its sleep.

More on Prophecies and Teachings

INUKSUK

The Inukshuk has become the main cultural symbol of recognition for the Inuit people and the Canadian North. It had a variety of meanings. (a) It was a directional marker used by the Inuit to help with navigation. (b) It was used as a memorial marker. (c) Warn of impending danger particularly on open water. (d) It marked sacred space. The word "Inukshuk' means "something that substitutes the actions of a person." Often spelled "INUKSHUK", with the addition of an "H", the Inuit prefer their way. The plural is "Inuksuit." It also means friendship, hope, safety, protection. It is a beacon in the North, a welcome sight of greeting. "I have always been here," it seems to say, "You are welcome in my world."

MASKS
Masks symbolize what they are designed to depict: animals, heroes, characters in a drama, wind, rain, supernatural beings, spirits of good and evil, ancestors, gods, spirits of nature, and so forth. They have also been used for satire and buffoonery, for terrorizing others, as emblems of special groups, to cause laughter or fear, to cure disease, and to impersonate people or supernatural beings. On the Pacific Northwest coast, for example, Masks were an integral part of the dance dramas at Yaawk (Feast) ceremonies. They were elaborately carved. Photo is a Moon Mask. Masks were also worn by Spirit Doctors as the spirit in the Mask empowered the healer with more power and energy.
MORE ON PACIFIC NORTHWEST COAST

MEDICINE BUNDLE

The Medicine Bundle is usually associated with the Spirit Doctor or a Healer. It contains the items that the Healer uses in her healing ceremonies. In the Tsimshian Tradition, the bundle was usually burned with the Medicine Doctor upon his death because it was thought to contain items of spiritual power unique only to that person. If used by another, without her express permission the energy could be destructive. Generally, however, the bundles were handed down from family member to family member. Each item in the bundle has its own song and the owner was expected to sing that song, when the item was to be used. The items came in visions and dreams and could include any of the following: crystals, roots, animal hides, shakers, arrowheads, horse hair, tobacco, sage, sweetgrass, cedar, animal bones, feathers, drums, stones, pipe, even nail clippings and human hair. From time to time, the bundle is feasted to keep is magic and power alive. There are also large medicine bundles that represent the entire tribe and held in trust by certain trusted people, such as Elders and Storytellers. Anyone can create a medicine bundle containing things that are important.

MEDICINE SHIELD

Power or Medicine shields were made by warriors as symbols of protection and strength in battle or the hunt. Mostly associated with the Plains it was used as a protective spirit and was usually adorned with the Warrior's spirit guide(s) and other items of personal meaning, i.e., eagle feathers, animal fur.
A young warrior sent out on his first visionquest to 'cry for a vision' would eventually return to his people and create his own shield depicting the animal spirit that had come to him in four significant ways while he was on his quest. It was believed that the shield would give the warrior great power by allowing him to know in his visions where the enemy was located.
Nowadays, a shield can be made by anyone who needs to feel protected and uplifted. It is a wonderfully healing activity to make one.

MEDICINE WHEEL HAS ITS OWN PAGE

NATURAL WORLD & THE NUMBER FOUR

First Nations teachings bases itself on balance and harmony of all living things anchored by the four great directions on the Medicine Wheel - East, South, West, North. There are four main groups of living beings and within each direction and main group lies endless sacred symbols and teachings that are contained within and around the Medicine Wheel. As an Elder once said, the teachings on the medicine wheel will always exceed the grains of sand on a beach!

MEDICINE WHEEL HAS ITS OWN PAGE

PARFLECHE

From Left: Shoshone, Cheyenne, Crow

Rawhide bag. The word is not Indigenous, but French as it first was introduced during the Fur Trade years. Interestingly, it is derived from the French, 'para' meaning 'to defend' and 'fleche' meaning 'to deflect arrows'. When combined the word describes the bag as something that could have been used as a shield because of the stiffness of its construction. The original bags were rather crudely made from buffalo hide that had been soaked in wood-ash lye to removed all hair and other properties. Like all Indigenous artifacts, although practical, there was no reason they should not be beautiful as well. The bags were painted with symbols belonging to the owner or of individual tribal significance. It was used mainly by the Plains Native people as a means of transporting a variety of items that included: dried plants, clothing, herbs, tools pemmican, There were even 'box' versions that could hold larger items. They became family heirlooms and were passed down for generations, turning them from practical to sacred to art.

PIPE

There are different kinds of pipes and different uses for them. There are personal pipes, family pipes as well as pipes for large ceremonies. NOTE: There really is no such thing as a Peace Pipe. The U.S. government sent representatives to The People with an understanding that the pipe would allow for peaceful land transactions because no Native person would lie once words were spoken in the presence of the pipe. When the pipe was presented to the circle and then smoked, it was a symbol of the 'straight truth' that went directly to Great Mystery. If an individual accepted the pipe and smoked it, he was, in fact, saying he believed what he was hearing and that he, in return, would not lie. (Note: It was never the Native people who lied!!)

Afterwards, when the Europeans started using tobacco for financial gain, its use became corrupted and great sickness came to the world - the inevitable results when a gift is misunderstood and misused. The great sickness was also contained in several ancient prophecies.

spirit6.jpg (66713 bytes) Generally Sacred Pipes consist of two parts, a tobacco-holding bowl made of bone, wood, stone, or metal (as in calumet pipes or some of the later trading pipes) and a stem, usually made of wood. The Pipes of the Plains were usually made out of soft, red catlinite stone (found in southwestern Minnesota).

The pipe, when joined, is a living being with energies coursing up and down its spine. The pipe is a ritual object created to focus and alter the consciousness of the user. It has its reflection in the human body and in the Universe. The pipe is a cosmos unto itself uniting all dualities within Creation.

NOTE: Although the pipe represents one of the highest forms of Native spirituality, you do not have to be a pipe carrier to receive the messages from the universe or to live a sacred life.

WHAT DOES THE BOWL REPRESENT?
Earth Mother, Female, Heart of Creation/Creativity, Birth, Rebirth, Womb, The Stone people , The Heart, Soil, Fertility, Life, Grandmother Moon. Held in Left Hand.

WHAT DOES THE STEM REPRESENT?
Sky, Father, Male, Spine, Transcendent, Impregnation, Original Energy, God Beyond Creation, The Tree Nation, The Airway, Lightning/thunder, Grandfather Sun. Held in Right Hand.

BEGINNING THE PROCESS: Your intentions should be pure, peaceful and for the greater good. Keep negative and violent thoughts away. The purpose of smoking the pipe is to provide and receive harmony, balance and wholeness. The pipe is not to be used as a vehicle for a self-indulgent wish list. Ego has no place here.

JOINING THE PIPE: Before joining the pipe, the stem and bowl are laid on a ceremonial blanket or held in the left and right hands respectively. The stem is lifted to the stem hole in the bowl as if in greeting; the stem is then fitted into the bowl. If the pipe is being used in ceremony or prayer, it is normally turned away from the body with a one-quarter turn.

HOLDING THE PIPE: The bowl of the pipe is held in the left hand (closest to the heart). The bowl is cradled gently in the open palm. The stem is held near the top generally with an overhand grip when a pipe ceremony leader is praying in public, and in an underhand, palm up, grip for private ceremony.

LOADING THE PIPE: Native tobacco (Kinikinik made from natural herbs) is normally used, and each pinch that is inserted into the bowl means something. The reason tobacco is used is because its roots go deeply into the earth, and its smoke rises high into the heavens carrying prayers. The tobacco represents both the seen and unseen worlds, and the connections that every living being within these two realms have as a huge and cohesive group. For example, the flying, crawling, swimming beings; four and two-leggeds; Mother Earths blood (water), air, fire, earth, star nation, planets, Ancestors, Stone and Tree families, and on and on......They all meet inside the bowl in a peaceful dance.

LIGHTING THE PIPE: The pipe should generally be lit with a wooden match or taper for it represents the fire of Creation meeting its children. (Thunderbird also believes in adapting to modern times and using the best the Europeans have to offer; long barbecue lighters work really well! She also thinks that if these lighters were available back in the day, her Ancestors would have happily used them because they would have invented them!)

SMOKING THE PIPE: The pipe in the right hand should switch from an overhand to an underhand grip almost as if you are sipping water from the heel of the palm. The smoke is drawn down the stem and not inhaled. The smoke for a moment merges with the breath and at that moment, the sacred and the profane become one; it is then gently released into the air as a whole being and the smoke carries prayers and intentions to original Creator. When you have finished smoking, the right hand should return to an overhand grip and the pipe should be passed clockwise to the next person.

PASSING THE PIPE: The pipe is nearly always passed in a clockwise direction representing the travel of the sun. The pipe is passed with an overhand grip on the stem and a careful cradling of the bowl. The pipe is received with two open, upward palms, and then the bowl is cradled in the left hand while the right hand closes over the stem in an overhand grip.

POSTING THE PIPE: This means the pipe is set on an altar which could be a buffalo skull, 2 forked sticks, rock or ceremonial blanket. During the time the pipe is posted the conversation should remain spiritual.

BREAKING THE PIPE: When the pipe ceremony is finished the pipe is taken apart by holding the bowl in the left hand and stem in the right. The ashes are returned to the earth and blessed. The stem is turned away from your body one quarter turn then pulled straight out of the bowl. When not in use, the two parts are usually stored separately.

WHO ARE KEEPERS OF THE SACRED PIPE: Normally pipe carriers are those Native individuals who have been walking and talking their earth walk in a good way for many years, and who have accepted the responsibility that goes with such an onerous undertaking.

Individuals should not give themselves pipes because this is viewed as self-indulgent and arrogant. Sadly, it is the case however, that more and more folks after a spiritual weekend here or there, are suddenly pipe carriers.
Also, non-Native people have a habit of giving pipes to other non-Native people. This practice is both mystifying and dangerous. It is viewed as particularly heinous to many Native cultures who see this as just another attempt to purloin Native spirituality without any real thought as to the consequences of their actions. Many Elders believe that both the giver and receiver of such a sacred item will both suffer in one way or another.

In these instances, the pipe has no essence, no power. If you purchased a pipe for yourself or someone else hang it on your wall, it has no spiritual value, and like Elvis, the Ancestors and all things magical and mystical will have left the longhouse!

HOW DOES AN INDIVIDUAL RECEIVE A PIPE?
In the time of the Ancestors, the pipe was 'dreamt' by one person (already a Pipe Carrier) on behalf of another, or it was passed down from Mother to Daughter, Father to Son, AND only after the receiver had shown themselves to be worthy.

There are very serious ceremonies that are undertaken before a pipe is smoked or used in ceremony. It must become the property of the carrier and, therefore, there are rituals involved for that process. In Thunderbird's case, she underwent a four day fast/visionquest, followed by ceremonies that covered thirteen full moons.

A pipe is normally received in three time-honoured ways and this is only after years of learning and walking the walk.

(a) A legitimate Native Elder or Traditional Teacher who is a pipe carrier and who has earned the right to give pipes and who does NOT know you, yet has had at least four profound experiences about you (dreams, visions).

(b) A legitimate Native Elder or Traditional Teacher who is a pipe carrier and who does know you and has had at least four profound experiences about you (dreams, visions).

c) the pipe was inherited through the family and the current Native owner has "earned" the right to carry and smoke it.

PLANTS/FLOWERS/TREES

The Plant World generally symbolizes transformation

Roots represent the past, and honour heritage and the Ancestors.
Trunk represents the present and reveals the life force and creative spirit within each of us.
Branches represent desired future goals.
Fruit or Flowers represent attainment of goals.

Four Sacred plants used for ceremonial and healing purposes are: Tobacco (East), Sage (South), Sweetgrass (West), Cedar (North)

STANDING PEOPLE (TREES)

Trees are regarded as the medicine people of the plant kingdom. They best represent the Warrior because trees are rooted and contained beings. They are stable yet flexible which allows them to bend in the wind but not break. Trees symbolize the process of transformation: Roots are the past and how we honour our heritage and Ancestors; the trunk is the present; the branches are future goals.

TREE OF LIFE

Haudenosaunee people of the Great League of Peace were instructed to search for their roots under the Great Tree, which is the symbol of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, the original five nations who chose to govern their people by peace. (Mohawk, Onandaga, Oneida, Seneca, Cayuga - later, Tuscarora).

The Tree is the white pine with four roots extended to the four directions of the earth to embrace all people. The White Roots represent peace and strength. If any person or nation outside the Five Nations wishes to obey the Great Laws of Peace they may follow one of the great roots to the tree. If their minds are clean and they promise to obey the wishes of the Confederate Council, they are welcome to take shelter beneath the "Tree of the Long Leaves." The tree has the guardian bird, Eagle, perched on the top to warn the people. The eternal central sun, the source of all life lies beyond the tree.

POTTERY

From Left: Hopi, Haudenausaune, Cherokee, Pueblo

Pottery is another artifact that started out as simply an item to store things. Those tribal communities that were agriculturally-based such as the Haudenousaune created stunning pottery to hold corn. Pottery and its Potters cannot be lumped into one category because the creation of the work was as unique as the different tribes famous for it. Southwestern pottery (Pueblo) is perhaps one of the more well known for the simple reason, that the tribes that produced it were settled, not nomadic. To this day, they have not moved far from their Ancestral land. Southwestern tribes, in other words, did not suffer the same intrusion of European dominancy that the tribes in the east were forced to endure. Therefore, they could indulge in creating these wondrous items using very sophisticated 'black on black' firing techniques. Prior to European contact, pottery could be found pretty much all across Turtle Island. The Haudenousaune pottery was recognized by its dark patina because it was made from dark clay found in southern Canada, New York State and parts of Wisconsin. Pottery was usually made by women.

POWER ANIMALS/SPIRIT GUIDES/TOTEMS

A power animal (or Guardian Spirit) is one that has made itself known in dreams or visionquest at least four times, each time in a significant way.

They are also ‘helping allies’ that assist during times of transition, growth, war, healing. Part of a person's individual medicine bundle should contain something from the natural world that represents the powerful spirit guides.

From time to time they should be honoured with a feast and a special ceremony.

RATTLE OR SHAKER

Shakers imitate rain and tears. Tears of sadness are the parts of the soul that have been lost. Tears of joy are when the four realms of human existence unify (mind, body, emotions, spirit). Rattles are used for: soul retrieval; cleansing and purifying; visionary work. The rattle is asked through its sound for spiritual guidance. Rattles are used to softly and gently to call ancestral spirits in case they are traveling and need time to return. The rattle calls softly to those in their long sleep and summons them respectfully for their assistance. The drum is not normally used to call The Ancestors lest they be awakened in a sudden, loud manner - they really hate that.

RELATIONSHIP TO OUR ANCESTORS

First Nations Ancestors were often accused of having a rather cavalier attitude toward death. Nothing could be further from the truth. Native ceremonies allowed for a time of keening for the dead, but the prophetic words of the great Nimii-puu (Nez Percé) Leader, Chief Joseph resonates through most tribes. He remarked that his Ancestors were not dead but merely ‘living in another world’. In this way they would always be kept alive in present day realities. Moreover, the Ancestors are always the first ones called to a ceremony.

Native people simply accepted that the essence of a person would remain an integral part of everyday life even though the physical body had been returned to the Earth Mother. Tribal survival also did not allow for extensive grieving because it was a harsh environment and life had to plough on. Therefore, it was a comfort to those who were grieving that their loved-one(s) really never left them. T

Ancestors are are the first family members we call to ceremony, and they always come. They love a good get together!. In most traditional ceremonies to this day, the Ancestors are usually at the top of the list to be called to the dance. It was simply unheard of to conduct a ceremony without the presence of the entire family, both Seen and Unseen.

SAND PAINTING

The Navajo have elevated sand painting to a fabulous spiritual art form. The meticulous art of pouring colours onto a dry surface to create a painting simply boggles the mind. The original depictions were made by Spirit Doctors and used in healing ceremonies. Effortlessly, the sand would flow through his fingers creating upwards of a thousand paintings that were recognized and used in various ceremonies. One ceremony alone could have forty paintings. This is the 'sand' version of oral storytelling as the culture of the Navajo people emerged through the paintings.

According to Wikipedia, different sand was made with naturally colored sand, crushed gypsum (white), yellow ochre, red sandstone, charcoal, and a mixture of charcoal and gypsum (blue). Brown can be made by mixing red and black; red and white make pink. Other coloring agents include corn meal, flower pollen, or powdered roots and bark. The sand paintings was used for healing purposes only and the Spirit Doctor called on Yeibicheii (Holy People) to come to him as he healed the patient through the sand paintings. Wikipedia further states,

"When the medicine man finishes painting, he checks its accuracy. The order and symmetry of the painting symbolize the harmony that the patient wishes to reestablish in his or her life. However accurate the sand painting is will determine how effective it will be as a sacred tool. The patient will then be asked to sit on the sand painting, and the medicine man will then proceed with the healing chant. The sand painting acts like a portal for spirits to come and go, and also attracts them. Sitting on the sand painting helps the patient absorb some of their power, while in turn the Holy People will absorb the illness and take it away. Afterwards, the sand painting has done its duty, and is then considered to be toxic, since the illness is absorbed into it. That is the reason they must be disposed of afterwards. Because of the sacred nature of the ceremonies, the sand paintings are begun, finished, used, and destroyed within a twelve hour period."

There are patriarchal overtones to the whole process because once again women on their moontime are prevented from being involved. Women are not allowed to sing the chants associated with Yeibicheiii because it might effect an unborn child (their own or someone else's). I can barely restraining my at this writing. Apparently, post-menopausal women can join in the festivities. Whew! that's a relief!

From Left: Mountain Gods; a large sandpainting be created; Sky and Mother Earth

SMUDGING AND THE FOUR SACRED PLANTS

Back in the time of spirit, ceremony and belief, Great Mystery gave to Turtle Island's Indigenous people four sacred plants. These medicines were meant to be used in prayer and for other peaceful purposes. When combined the smoke carried our prayers to Great Mystery. Today, what is often called a 'Sweetgrass Ceremony' opens many gatherings, powwows, meetings, conferences anywhere people are gathered together in a good way. The word 'smudge' is a bit of a slang term when describing the four plants as a group; 'smudging' means the action of fanning or pushing the smoke over you to create harmony mentally, spiritually, emotionally and physically.

SWEETGRASS, the hair of Mother Earth and the power of emotional healing. It is literally is sweetgrass and often grows in dark, marshy places. It is braided to signify unity and strength. A single blade of grass represents an aspect of the living world, when separated it can be broken, but when braided it cannot be broken. When in ceremony, human hair is usually braided to signify that we are all one people and that our world vision is one of strong, united, supportive communities. Sweetgrass is a tangible metaphor for a unified world. Our task is to work towards a world community that is in harmony with itself. Sweetgrass soothes the emotions, calms the nerves, brings down the heart rate. Its perfume drops your shoulders in relaxation as you move into the rhythm of the Earth.

CEDAR - the power of physical healing. It's sweet smell and healing properties are used in physical healing. Bathing in a cedar bath or the occasional cup of cedar tea helps to cleans the internal and external body. Feel its power seep into your pores. Feel the pulse of your heart as your body embraces its own health and wellbeing. Line the floor of a sweatlodge with Cedar so that its sweet smell can imbue those sitting inside. It is refreshing, it invigorates, it heals.

SAGE - The power of spiritual healing. As the white sage (salvia apiana) wafts across your body, breathe it into your soul. Let your spirit find its balance with the emotions and the physical body. Feel its power raise your spirits, feel yourself stand taller and stronger. There are holes in the spirit when it is sad, let the sage fill those holes with good thoughts and positive attitudes.

TOBACCO - The power of Mental Healing. Ah, the most powerful of all, it gives thanks to Great Mystery and to the Ancestors. Often considered to be the oldest plant on Turtle Island, it was never meant to be smoked for commercial purposes! Sacred tobacco is pure and colled 'Kinnikinnik'. It is comprised of Tobacco, bear berry leaves, red willow and alder bark, among other things. It is smoked in sacred pipes and given to Elders or Traditional Teachers when requesting assistance or information. Tobacco is sprinkled in thanks to the Earth Mother, to Great Mystery and to the Ancestors for gracing us with their presence. Tobacco should be held in the left hand, closest to the heart. Raise your hand, it should be offered to the four directions before being scattered on the earth.

HOW TO SMUDGE: Place cedar, sage, sweetgrass into a clay bowl. Light it carefully and let the smoke start to rise, it carries your prayers to Great Mystery. Rub your hands in the smoke to cleanse them; scoop the smoke into your hands and bring it to your head, so you will think good thoughts - no anger, jealousy, hate; to the eyes so you will see the world around you in a good way; to the throat so you will speak always in kindness and in non-judgmental ways; to the ears, so that you will listen truly listen to each other instead of 'waiting to speak' which we so often do; to the heart so you feel connected to all living beings in a loving way; to the solar plexus so your emotions connect with the Earth Mother; Women to the womb, so your life giving energies go out into the world in balance and harmony. Finally under the feet, this way the dark side of your soul and the world will not follow in your footsteps.

Ah, do you hear that? Listen carefully, for the Ancestors have awoken from their deep sleep and have come along with the spirit of the smudge. They are here to help you heal. As is the way with all things sacred, great respect must be given to the process of smudging for a relationship is being formed between you, the plant spirits, the Ancestors and Great Mystery. It is powerful and must be respected.

Often shells are used for smudging; big, beautiful abalone shells. In Thunderbird's Pacific Northwest tradition, shells once contained the spirit of a living being. Her heritage is of the seas and oceans, streams and rivers; respect for all living beings that reside there is paramount for they offered themselves so her people could eat and live well. As a result she does not use the shells for they once contained the living spirit of a relative! To burn the bottoms of these shells is to burn the spirit that once lived there.

Over the years she has been given a number of these beautiful shells. She uses them to hold her healing rock crystals, or as a prayer bowl which contains the names of those who require healing,

A simple, Clay bowl is her choice for smudging.

For this is the way of it.....all my relations

SOUL CATCHER

The Soul Catcher (Pacific west coast) was used for healing work, not necessarily for use after the patient had gone to his/her day of quiet. In death, it was expected that the soul would leave and find its way to the light. There were other ceremonies to ensure this happened.

The Tsimshian, Inuit, Tlingit Spirit Doctors used soul catchers as an important part of their healing work. Physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health are all intertwined as they make up the four realms of human existence. The four realms relied on a healthy spirit (soul) to anchor the other three parts. If the soul became lost while separated from the body during a dream, or was driven out by sorcery (either self-inflicted or by someone else), the body was now empty. A spirit doctor was engaged to find the lost soul, capture it in a soul catcher and restore it to the patient. Soul retrieval is a very complex and special ceremony.

Once the soul was found, the Spirit Doctor then placed one end of the soul catcher near the solar plexus and blew the person’s spirit back into them. This prevented illness from invading the "empty" body. Loss of soul can also be considered a metaphor for some sort of mental or emotional breakdown.

Note: 1: The term ‘Spirit Doctor’ in lieu of the term ‘Shaman’ is being used. 'Shaman' is a term that came from central Asia. There is no word in any Native language for the word ‘Shaman’.

Note 2: The northern tribes also recognized sorcerers in their midst. These were often spirit doctors who had gone to the dark side of their own souls and who could inflict considerable damage on a person(s). Also, sorcery is also within each of us. The human condition has a bad habit of routinely driving itself into the dark void of the soul.

Note 3: Soul Catchers were most often carved from the leg bone of a grizzly or brown bear. Because bear femurs were large, much bigger soul catchers could be created to plug the smoke hole of the healing house just in case the soul tried to make a premature getaway!

Note 4: There were also 'plugs' made from cedar bark to plug the holes at either end of the soul catcher to hold the soul until it was blown back into the patient.

SPIRIT DOCTORS - For a COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT THE WORLD OF THE SPIRIT DOCTOR

MORE ABOUT CEREMONIAL PROTOCOL

TALKING STICK & TALKING CIRCLES

The teaching of the Talking Stick is an exquisite example of the combined sacredness of the Talking Circle and the Five Codes of Ethics, in particular Non-Interference and Anger Not be Shown. When the Talking Stick is passed around the circle it is an action that is overtly indicative of the respect that we have toward the concept of harmony, balance and good manners among Humans, The Great Mystery and Mother Earth. The Talking Stick is a symbol of respect for the thoughts, stories and individual histories of each member participating in the circle.

Whoever is holding the stick speaks their truth at that moment in their personal history, The role of the rest of the participants is to sit quietly and engage in active listening. No one else should interrupt while the person holding the Talking Stick is speaking. When the individual has finished speaking (however long that takes), the Talking Stick is handed to the next person in the circle. If the receiver chooses not to speak, she simply hands it to the next person until the Talking Stick has been passed to everyone participating. In this way each person has had the opportunity to Speak and to Listen. The Talking Stick does not have to be a fancy, beaded Stick, It can simply be something that has been found in nature that has personal meaning. Thunderbird's favourite items are, a ‘Talking Stone’, a wonderful round stone she found on the beach of Haida G’wai (Queen Charlotte Islands); A small, beautiful totem pole that was carved especially for her by a friend. Always remember that what is said in the circle remains there.

THE CIRCLE: There are different kinds of Talking Circles and they generally start the same way. The convener opens the circle with a smudging ceremony and prayer. The convener usually sits in the East. If it is a 'mixed' circle, men sit in the north, women in the west, youth in the south.

The Circle is NOT a debating society, it is not used as a dialogue between or among participants. The circle is to allow each person to speak their truth in a place of confidence and safety. All anger, jealousy, hate, anguish must be left outside the circle so that a feeling of calm, kinship and kindness can dominate the proceedings. The circle is symbolic of the Medicine Wheel where no one is more prominent than any other person, all are equal and there is no beginning and no end, so that all words spoken are accepted and respected on an equal basis. Each individual can speak for as long as she/h chooses, although if it is a large circle, the Convener will remind everyone of time and fatigue, particularly for older participants, such as Elders.

Honesty, Truth, Courage, Wisdom, Humility, Honor, Trust, Respect, Love are the themes used as each person seeks to find balance, healing and harmony in their lives.

SHARING/CARING CIRCLE. This is the most common circle. There is no common theme but rather a time of reflection where Individuals come together and speak whatever is in their hearts in a place of safety.

HEALING CIRCLE. The most powerful circle of all. The Convener gently helps Individuals speak their truths however painful. Sometimes the circle has been convened to assist only one Individual. Even so, everyone present benefits in a variety of different ways.

MEDIATION CIRCLE. These are circles convened to mediate between Individuals or groups.

TALKING CIRCLE PROTOCOL:

As noted above, the circle is not a place for anger or accusation or debate. Speak from the 'first person only and in your own truth'.

Introduce yourself first, first name, last name, both, whatever you are comfortable with. It's just a polite thing to do.

REMEMBER: when holding the Talking Stick, you are the only one allowed to speak; everyone else listens with respect, support, compassion and quietness.

There's an TV ad which says, 'what goes on in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Well, the same rule applies to the circle - what goes on in the circle, stays in the circle! Participants should not leave with the idea of telling others about what went on. Individuals speak in the circle with absolute trust and honesty and rely on the discretion of all participants.

If there are Native Elders present, they should be given a gift of tobacco.

TOTEM POLES
(PACIFIC NORTHWEST COAST)

TURTLE

The Turtle is considered to be the oldest, sacred symbol of the Anishinabe and Haudenosaunee people. They believed that North America was created on the back of a turtle. Father Sky's wife fell through a hole in the sky, and to keep her from drowning little Muskrat managed to bring up a handful of soil from the bottom of the ocean; she placed it on Turtle's wide back and the land immediately began to grow eventually forming North America. To this day most Indigenous peoples refer to North America as Turtle Island. (You might want to take a look at the shape of North America in an Atlas, it look just like a turtle. The feet are: Alaska, Greenland, Baha, California and Florida. The tail is the continent of South America. Top half of the shell is Canada, bottom half is the continental United States.)

The medicine of turtle is its deliberate and thorough approach to life; Turtle is also courageous because it makes progress only when it sticks its neck out, and moves forward with patient, steady flow in order to achieve the desired results.

The turtle shell, regardless of size, was also used as a calendar, with the thirteen large patterned squares counting out all the full moons of the year. The 28 small squares on the outside counted the days of each lunar month.

WAMPUM
At the urging of Benjamin Franklin, the Haudenosaunee League of Nations Great Law, is what the United States Declaration of Independence is based on.

FIVE NATIONS TERRITORIAL WAMPUM BELT
Square on far left is Mohawk: Keeper of the Eastern Door Second from Left: Oneida: Keeper of the Northern Door. Centre white tree of life represents the Onandaga: Keeper of the Fire. The white tree also means that the five nations act as one unit in their loyalty to the Great Peace. To the right of the Heart, Cayuga: Keeper of the Southern Door and far right the Seneca: Keeper of the Western Door.
Overall the white beads symbolize that no evil or jealous thoughts shall enter into the minds of the leaders while in Council as they are governed by the teaching of the Great Peace. White is the symbol of peace, love, charity and equity and surrounds and guards the Five Nations (Six when the Tuscarora came later)

TWO ROW WAMPUM BELT

Cayuga Elder, Jake Thomas holds a replica of a two row wampum belt. Also called Tékeni Teioháte, it symbolizes the relationship between Native people and white people.
One purple row of beads represents the path of the Haudenousaunee's canoe which contains their customs and laws.
The other row represents the path of the White man's vessel, the sailing ship, which contains his customs and laws.
The meaning of the parallel paths is that neither boat should out pace the other, and the paths should remain separate and parallel forever, that is, as long as the grass grows, the rivers flow, the sun shines, will each group continue to understand their place in the world, honour it and continue to renew their understanding

EVER GROWING TREE BELT
This belt represents the Ever Growing Tree of Life with its branches spread to the east, west. The top to the north, roots to the south. It is the tree of peace for any nation or individual outside of the Five Nations who wishes to also obey the great laws of peace. If you are of clean mind and heart, you can rest awhile beneath its branches and listen to the great law.
Jake Thomas stands with a reproduction of the Ever Grown Tree Belt
IN MEMORIUM
Jacob (Jake) Thomas
January 6, 1922 - August 17, 1998
This section honours Mr. Jake Thomas who was the last Haudenasaunne Elder to speak the Great Law in its entirety. It took him almost two weeks. He is now beyond the white veil, no doubt, continuing to keep the Great Peace alive with his wondrous speaking skills. Mr. Thomas was a well-known Cayuga Hereditary Chief and Culture-Bearing Elder. Years ago, I hosted an Elder's Conference and was privileged to spend time with Mr. Thomas.

WATER
“I tumble and I roll, my waves clean your soul, I bring rain to clean the land. I breathe and you live another day indivisible as Air. I am lakes, rivers, streams and brooks, wetlands, swamps, lagoons and pools. I am watersheds, waterfalls, seas and ocean. I am liquid magic. I am clear, I am clean, I am soothing. I am ice and sleet and snow. I am darkness, thickness, waves and motion. I am cold, I am warm, I am female. I am fog, mist, and clouds. I shape the world-I shape your body-I shape the land within me. Honour me and calm your mind that you never thirst for love or life.” Questions: Would you exist without me? What are some of the things you could do on a regular basis to keep me clean and healthy?

Water has a spirit. Water floods around the boat protecting and holding your conscious and unconscious selves. It speaks to you as you swim or float in your own dreams. Water cleanses the physical body, the mind, emotions and the spirit. Tears clean the soul. Bathe in it, drink lots of it, do not take it for granted.
Heal with water

A CORNUCOPIA OF GLORIOUS SYMBOLS

HOPI KACHINA DOLLS - THE HOPI ARE VERY WISE PEOPLE
They are connected to powerful ancestor spirits called to bring rain to help the crops grow. They come as winter says its farewell for the year and the growing seasons begin. The are a variety of dolls that represent Mother Earth, Father Sky, Grandfather Sun, the bird and animal people along with the the clouds. The Kachina mainly celebrates abundant harvest, fertility, long life, good health and provide harmonious balance in nature. There are over 300 different Kachinas. There is a prophecy about the return of the Blue Kachina to herald the Fifth Age of Man.
OTHER HOPI SYMBOLS
Hopi Spiral represents the number of times an individual has gone to the four corners of the world through vision, dreamtime, Spirit Doctor journeys.

Hopi World Symbol. Four bars that form the cross are the four directions; the four outer points of the cross areassociated with the two solstices and two equinoxes; four circles represent the four colours of human who came to the world to keep in balance.
Sun Kachina also known as Tawa Kachina which symbalizes life, new growth and abundance.

KOKOPELLI - A common fertility symbol through the southwest. His image is found many times in petrography art . He is honoured as a Kachina by most Pueblo cultures. He is associated with fertility, the male principal, biology and the significance of guarding seeks. Usually depicted as old, bent under his heavy load with his flute. He travels to many communities impregnating young women who are mesmerized by his flute playing (yikes!). Original Kokapelli figures were not as watered-down in appearance as they are now. They had prominent genitals, afterall he was the king of fertility back in the day!

SPIDER The dominance of Spider Woman, the female creative principle, befits a culture that remains to this day matrilineal. In the beginning there were only two: Tawa, the Sun God, and Spider Woman, the Earth Goddess. All the mysteries and power in the Above belonged to Tawa, while Spider Woman controlled the magic of the Below. In the Underworld, abode of the Gods, they were the only ones that lived there. There were no humans, birds, animals, not living things until Tawa and Spider Woman made it so.

SWASTIKA Before it was evil, it was good, and it is the oldest cross/symbol/emblem in the world. The image can be found throughout Native history. The postcard shown above states: "May the four winds from the four corners of the heavens upon you gently blow." It is also not exactly the same symbol that Hitler and his Nazi Party used. Upon closer inspection, the true symbol is actually a reverse of the counterclockwise Nazi version. Sadly, what was a beautiful symbol that represented peace and the natural order of things (sun, winds, four directions) has been perverted for all time by one evil individual and a terrible time in human history.

POLAR BEAR - To the Inuit, the Polar Bear also called the Dawn Bear is the ancient ancestor of all bears. There are many Inuit myths in which polar bears have sexual intercourse with women. Many images by Inuit artists show humans and animals inhabiting the same social space in a harmonious and amicable manner. Animals are often seen engaging in human activities such as speaking and dancing. Animals have a 'soul' and must be hunted with due respect and ritual. Animals, for the Inuit, have 'personhood' though are not human. Offense against an animal soul can lead to all manner of misfortune including bad hunting and inclement weather. Bad hunting can bring starvation for there are few wild plants to be gathered for food in the arctic.

NAVAJO YEII SPIRIT
A spirit who mediates between humans and The Great Spirit. Yeiis control elements such as day and night, rain, wind, sun & others. A very exceptional kind of yeii is the Yei'bi'chai, grandparent spirit or "talking God" who can speak to human directly, instructing them how to live in harmony with all living things by following some simple rules of behaviour; to conserve and use well only the things needed to survive. A symbol of harmony achieved is the "Rainbow Kokopelli", a Yeii commanding the rainbow, giving beauty to all those in harmony.

LAKOTA SYMBOLS

Thunderbird represents the highest peak of the Black Hills in South Dakota where Thunderbird nests. He is both a powerful and terrifying figure in Lakota stories. Also known as, Wakinyan, He is the guardian of TRUTH and has been known to kill liars when lightning bolts bullet from his eyes and flow out his beak. Never mess with Thunderbird!!

Tortoise symbol. She carries the earth inside her body. There are many stories from many nations regarding the power of Tortoise including the story that North America rests on her back. The Lakota give this symbols to new born babies because the earth is the direction connection to birth.

Symbols of the earth and the four great winds that sit in the four corners and blow out from their position.

Medicine Arrows represent an inspirational or enlightened experience through visionquest, dream, sweatlodge. North Arrow is Wisdom, East Arrow is being able to see the future, South Arrow is innocence, West Arrow are dreams, introspection, prayer.

WORLD OF THE SUPERNATURAL

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