Before we get to the
answer, I remind everyone that the only thing that I am an expert at is,
remembering the things that were drilled into my head by my ancestor!
One must also remember
that even now after First Contact, Rat Poison, and Small Pox (another posting
coming soon) there are still over five thousand tribes around Indian Country,
some recognized by this government some are not!
This question is about
Smudging .
Grandmother Tribal
Elder Virginia Graverette Pigeon is a great teacher, I would be please to get
to know her, she follows her ancestors knowledge, culture and ceremonies. Her
people are in central country, mine are in eastern country.
As with the many
tribes, there are many ways of remembering our culture and ceremonies, as she
teaches, there is no wrong way to smudge, and as my ancestors like to say,
"Smudging is another way to Pray"!
Her statement right at
the beginning
"Some people
follow the Traditional Way and some follow the Christian Way and that one way
respects the aspects of both ways. Both know one God".
I am one of those
believers in both ways!
Smoked the Pipe of
Peace,
our people call it a Friendship Pipe.
Remember that as with
my people, tobacco was and still is grown in and around our land however, it
was never treated with chemicals we mix it as one of the Herbs called Kinnick,
Kinnick!
The four sacred herbs,
tobacco, sweet grass, sage, and cedar.
We did not know about
sage or sweet grass until my grandfather (Sachem Tallfox) made one of his many
trips out west in the 1930's.
We now include, with
permission, each along with our Kinnick, Kinnick.
Sachem discussed our
Kinnick, Kinnick and their herbs with their elder, both agreed the use of all
of them would be acceptable in prayers.
Smudge the room
The smudges around the
room depends with the tribes own beliefs. For example, the original traditional
people like the Creek, Pequot's, Mohegan's up and down the east coast, dance
and walk counted clock way, the occult up and down the east coast dance and
walk clock ways, it all depends on the group of people however, the East
is where everything in Indian country always starts. We make sure that
everything being smudged is taught as a prayer, everything smudged is blessed
by Creator.
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