How to gift a Spiritual leader?

Native American Spirituality.

"Spirituality is not religion to American Natives.

Religion is not a Native concept, it is a non Native word,

with implications of things that often end badly, like

Holy wars, in the name of individual God's and so on.

Native people do not ask what religion another Native is,

because they already know the answer.

To Native people, spirituality is about the Creator, period."

Gifting a spiritual leader.

A spiritual leader is just another worker for Creator, one would gift them as you would any traditional Native person.

The traditional way to give is a gift of tobacco (Kicnic-kicnic), as the request is made to gift that person.

Please remember, there is nothing sacred about any chemical, they are all poison so, what you would be saying by gifting tobacco to this person is, I poison you!

Remember, the left side of a person is the closest to the heart so, when you are sure that that person knows that you are approaching and with the gift in your left hand, reach out to that persons left hand, with your eyes looking at their heart, hand the gift, hand to hand.

A traditional leader uses a lot of this tobacco so, you can be sure that it will be greatly appreciated.

My ancestors were simple common sense people.

Their tobacco was grown without chemicals, the ancestors did not need them!

Today our elders know that cigarettes cause cancer, even if they smoke, someone that they know and love has died a horrible death from this cancer.

Please do not insult them by an offering of a cancer causing cigarette.

Will you please use Kinnick~ Kinnick (herbs)?

Traditional Native Americans make terrible politicians.

A traditionalist is taught from creation by Creator to be caring, sincere, and generous, they are taught from birth that it is better to give then receive.

As stated in earlier blogging if you wish to gift a traditional native American and do not want that gift given away, do not give the gift!

Because of this, a traditionalist is poor and never greedy, therefore if elected they would be eaten alive by predators.

Native American Gift Giving?

Gift giving the American native way.

It is a good thing that there is a tracker on my blogs or it would be impossible to find and answer your questions.

Unfortunately for me, many of the blog questions have been coming from Canada so, please be mindful of the fact that even though it is true that many of my people traveled, not knowing what a boarded was, this blog answers questions from the knowledge of my elders now ancestors.

There are many ways for you to ask your question, because for some reason my tracker seems to be going away.

Question of the day.

Does one have to give a gift at a traditional native wedding?

NO!

Every gift on Mother Earth is given by Creator freely, therefore, every gift must be given freely, no matter what the ceremony.

That said, Creator never said that you cannot give a gift your way.

Most Spiritual leaders frown on money gifts as an after though, Kinnick~ Kinnick (Herbs) would be the preferred way to gift.

You may gift or not gift whatever you wish to gift, your gift is the correct gift to give.

Please remember, there is nothing sacred about any chemical, they are all poison so, what you would be saying if gifting tobacco to this person is, I poison you!

My ancestors were simple common sense people.

Their tobacco was grown without chemicals, they did not need them!

Today our elders know that cigarettes cause cancer, even if they smoke, someone that they know and love has died a horrible death from this cancer.

Please do not insult us by an offering of a cancer causing cigarette.

Will you please use Kinnick~ Kinnick (herbs)?

Taw-but-ni (thank-you).

Medicine man/Medicine women.

Vine Deloria Jr's quote of the day.

"Indians can become whites because the requirements are not very vigorous, but can whites really become Indians"?

http://www.dcourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=95629

After reading this article this is my thought of the day.

In my culture, the Native American culture from New England people, a sweat lodge ceremony, the vision quest, a medicine women, the naming ceremony, a medicine man, the burial ceremony, and so on, are extremely sacred and should never be paraded around by anyone native or not.

Native Americans can and lately do become white, because the requirements are very simple.

However, can a white really become a Native American”?

For my people, Yes!

Only the requirements are anything but simple however, from what I have been told from successful applicants is that the time spent learning is well worth it!

Welcome to my family my new brothers and sisters.

http://mysmudgingblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/adoption-into-tribe.html

An Elder.

The Elder

An Elder is given the title and recognition as Elder by other Elders of his/her respective community or nation. They are selected based on their experience as mediators, their spiritual and traditional knowledge and their capacity to pass on these experiences to others.

One does not have to be a senior citizen to be an Elder.

The gifted individual is given the position of Elder by spiritual and human acceptance, and must commit to fulfill his/her responsibilities to ensure that traditional values, principles and other teachings are passed along, and to provide instruction to help individuals live in the right way.

In the performance of these activities, the Elder may be assisted by an Elder’s Helper.

During ceremonies, Elders may choose to smudge prior to the others in a group or they may often be offered a place of respect at the head of a line.

 When food is served, Elders should be served before others in attendance, this is a respect that they have earned.

Grandfather Elder.

Everyone should know, at least in every tribe that I have visited, that Grandfather is a name sometime used for Creator.

Grandfather is also used as a sign of esteem admiration to an elder that has satisfied the requirements as stated above.

Grandmother Elder.

In a Matriarch society one must walk very carefully and carry a few red pouches when attempting to call an elder Grandmother.

One needs to be familiar with the person and her people so as not to get dead ( just joking) women do not like to be reminded of age, so keep this in mind.