A Sacred Pipe Ceremony.

After a very intense gathering ceremony two of my Clan Mothers asked me to explain more about the pipe ceremony.

Usually one would not do so in public however, after many questions as to why people are now doing so through-out the internet I decided to write this from my heart.

Writing this information to please two of my elders

While reading the following please remember this, We, the children of the Creator can bless NOTHING, the best that we can do is make ready for our Creator to come do the blessing, also as explained above I only speak about my people.

(The Matriarch’s of my people).

Elders please bear with me for a moment! In Indian country this is about Native American Pipes. I have been to almost if not all American Native People through-out Indian country and at no time (While visiting Traditional Natives) Would one ever see a show and tell pipe ceremony? NEVER!

1st we should talk about the most famous pipe of all, the Hollywood pipe (peace pipe).

This is the pipe we have seen on Television since the television first came on line. After each and every battle in a movie the white hat would demand this peace pipe!

2nd the Friendship pipe.

Calumet (Pipestone) peace pipes are Plains Indian pipes!

http://www.thewildwest.org/nativeamericans/nativeamericanplaces/124-pipestonenationalmonument.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pipestone_National_Monument

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pipestone,_MN

INDIAN CALUMET: The Pipe of Peace
By Christopher Nyerges

http://www.native-languages.org/pipes.htm

 A pipe used mostly in an Eastern Woodland society for welcoming someone to their village, or thanking someone, or just plain being friendly.

Sacred pipe

A pipe used in all Native American Ceremony’s. Not to be discussed in public only because the prayers while using this pipe are between the holder and Grandfather (Creator). The western Native societies (nations) use this very Special pipe and the non-natives

have shortened its use to call it a peace pipe.

Peace pipe, as explained earlier is a pipe used by Hollywood mostly to make the movies look better, usually this made the (Indians) look foolish.

However, the point in my story was that no pipe should be disrespected at anytime anywhere and never to be performed (show and tell) for the public!

Never a charge at any sacred ceremony!

Thank you to KPHO CBS 5 News

Local Sweat Lodge Leader Gives Inside
Look

Dr. Carl Hammerschlag Shows What, He Says, a Lodge
should Look Like.

Elizabeth Erwin Reporter, KPHO CBS 5 News

POSTED: 8:58 pm MST February 15, 2011 UPDATED: 11:43
pm MST February 15, 2011

http://www.kpho.com/news/26881236/detail.html

I have no idea who Dr. Hammerschlag is and neither
does Google however, I approve of his interview and I wish to thank KPHO CBS 5
News for going out to look for a correct Native
American story about a Sacred
ceremony such as the Sweat lodge!

 

 

 

Etiquette Vocabulary and Titles Native Americans

It needs to be clear up front, this is a Dance circle, the Arena is for a Circus! However, many new gatherings do turn out to be a joke, circus, and/or carnival!

This area is blessed by Creator before the dance and must remain pure throughout the Ceremony.

There is a single entrance to the circle always facing ‘East’

You should not enter the area unless invited, and this is the only entrance that should be used to enter.

This invisible boundary should not be broken at anytime by any one.

Head Veteran/’Gatekeeper’.

The word (gatekeeper) is used in this posting only as a helper for your understanding while at a Gathering, powwow is an evil spirit.

The main entrance to a circle at the east is maintained by the Head Veteran or a helper to answer questions and a help in protecting the dignity and use of this circle, a gatekeeper is used in many, other then, native functions!

This person runs the circle to the rules of the tribal nation and Creator as set up before the start of this gathering!

Regalia – attire worn by dancers– NOT a costume.

The development of a dancer’s regalia is a very personal process. Often items have taken years to create or may be gifts and have deep meaning.

Master of Ceremonies MC) officiates over Ceremony proceedings.

Guide to the events – pay attention to his announcements.

The Drum – Is the heartbeat of Mother Earth.

The drum acts as an agent to bring harmony and balance to participants and to spectators. The drum acts as an intercessor to the spiritual realm, Ancestors/Creator.

Grand Entry – opening processional of officials and dancers.

Head Man Dancer – lead dancer. He (Native man) will begin and guide the other dancers through the dance.

Head Woman Dancer – lead dancer. She (Native women) will begin and guide the other dancers through the dance.

Intertribal Dance – social dance; Open to visitors to come join the dancers in celebration.

Bring your own seating, chairs and benches around the arena are reserved for dancers, seats with blankets or other personal items are taken.

Items left at seats are not to be touched. This is a gathering of family there should be no need to guard belongings from each other.

Dress appropriately. This is as a church please dress accordingly halter tops and short shorts are not appropriate for this celebration.

Pictures may be taken with the permission of the dancers. However, never during dedication dances as in the Grant entry, Honor songs, Veterans Songs, Flag Songs, and Prayers.

These special songs will be announced by the MC.

NO drugs or alcohol permitted at any time for any reason. Exception, medicine with prescription bottle.

Supervise your children so that all may enjoy the event without distraction.

Animals some gatherings do not allow them and so should not be brought to the event please ask beforehand.

Do not litter! Respect our ways.

Do not touch a dancer’s regalia. These items are made with great care and are often gifts to the dancers from friends and family. They have deep significance and should be respected.

If something falls, leave it. Inform the individual that they have dropped something, and they will go through the proper procedures to retrieve it.

If invited to dance, please do. If not invited do not go.

It is disrespectful to decline, do not worry about not knowing how the person who invited you will teach you.

Listen to the MC always for guidance. He or she will let you know when you need to stand and when you may sit after honor songs.

They will also announce intertribal dances and other invitations for our guests to participate. 

What is Shamanism?

The religion of the ancient peoples of northern Europe and Asia, A
shaman is one who goes into an altered state of consciousness at will. While in
this altered state, he or she makes a conscious choice to journey to another
reality. A term that comes from a Siberian tribal word for its practitioners:
"shaman" (pronounced SHAH-mahn).

The only point that I am trying to make is that a Shaman is not a Medicine
man or woman and a Medicine man or women are not Witches, Warlocks or Shamans,
just as a reptile is not a mammal and a mammal is not a fish and a fish is not
a reptile.

I find nothing wrong with a reptile, mammal, fish, Shaman, Witch,
Warlock Medicine man or Medicine woman however, I do object when everyone
starts to put a mammal in with a reptile or a fish out on land with a mammal or
Medicine man or woman into a Celtic circle or a Shaman, Witch or Warlock into
a  Traditional American native gathering,
powwow or paw-paus! Everything then becomes polluted and/or confused by these
moves.

SOCIETY OF CELTIC SHAMANS FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Category: Shamanism

http://www.faeryshaman.org/shamanfaq.htm

American Native Spirituality

Spirituality is not religion.

If the people of the organized religions of
this world would think back to the beginning of their beliefs, back to Abraham
and Sara and the promise from their supreme being, Allah, Jehovah, God, or I
say Creator. Follow me and I will make you a new nation!

The Israelites believe their god was talking to them, the Muslims believe their Allah was talking to them, point being if each would follow their God they would still be following the three rules.

Number one “Do not kill”.

Number 2 “love thy neighbor”.

Number three “keep doing rules #1 and rule #2”!!!!

While speaking in the name of a religion is a good way to assure a battle.

Religion, since the beginning of time has always been a way to pit humans against each other.

"In the name of my God, I take your life and your land and your wampum (goods)".

In the name of Allah or God or whatever, it has been an excuse for a dominating country or race to make servants out of smaller, less populated people or countries.

In the Creator's eyes, we are all servants of the master.

We need to spend more time learning how to serve the Creator and less time trying to make servants out of our fellow man.

The more we learn to serve the Creator, the better everyone's life on Mother Earth will be.

“Creator created ALL”.

Creator is always right everyone else is always wrong, so follow Creator”!

Remember rule # 1