The Gift of the Sacred Pipe

Before the appearance of the Buffalo Calf Woman, the Indian honored the Great Spirit. But for the Sioux, the coming of Buffalo Calf Woman brought a most important instrument, the pipe, which is now used in all ceremonies.

The sacred pipe came into being many, many years ago. Two men of the Sioux tribe were hunting when they saw something approaching in the distance. As the figure grew close, they observed a maiden, attired in white buckskin, carrying a bundle wrapped in buffalo hide.As she walked slowly toward them she sang out and repeated; Behold me.
Behold me,
For in a sacred manner
I am walking.One of the men had evil thoughts about this maiden and moved towards her. The other Sioux tried forcibly to restrain him, but the evil warrior pushed the good warrior away. A cloud descended and engulfed the evil one, and when it lifted, his body was a skeleton being devoured by worms. This symbolized that one who lives in ignorance and has evil in their hearts may be destroyed by their own actions.The good warrior knelt in fear, trembling as the buckskin-clad maiden approached. She spoke to him, telling him to fear not and to return to his people and prepare them for her coming. The warrior did so, and the maiden appeared, walking among them in a sunwise, (clockwise) direction.She held forth her bundle and said:This is a sacred gift
And must always be treated in a holy way.
In this bundle is a sacred pipe
Which no impure man or woman should ever see.With this sacred pipe
You will send your voices to Wakan Tanka.
The Great Spirit, Creator of all.
Your Father and Grandfather.With this sacred pipe
You will walk upon the Earth
Which is your Grandmother and Mother.
All your steps should be holy.The bowl of the pipe is red stone
Which represents the earth.
A buffalo calf is carved in the stone facing the center
And symbolizes the four-legged creatures
Who live as brothers among you.
The stem is wood and represents all growing things.
Twelve feathers hang from where the stem fits the bowl
And are from the Spotted Eagle.
These represent all the winged brothers
Who live among you.

All these things are joined to you
Who will smoke the pipe and send voices to Wakan Tanka.
When you use this pipe to pray,
You will pray for and with every thing.
The sacred pipe binds you to all your relatives;
Your Grandfather and Father,
Your Grandmother and Mother.

The red stone represents the Mother Earth
On which you will live.
The Earth is red
And the two-leggeds who live upon it are also red.
Wakan Tanka has given you a red road-
A good and straight road to travel,
And you must remember that all people
Who stand on this earth are sacred.

From this day,
The sacred pipe will stand on the red earth,
And you will send your voices to Wakan Tanka.

There are seven circles on the stone
Which represent the seven rites
In which you will use the pipe.

The Buffalo Calf Woman then instructed the people to send messengers to the different bands of the Sioux nation, to bring in the leaders, the medicine people, and the holy ones.

When the people gathered, she instructed them in the sacred ceremonies. She told them of the first rite, the Keeping of the Soul. She told them that the remaining six rites would be revealed to them through visions. As she prepared to leave she said:

Remember how sacred the pipe is
And treat it in a sacred manner,
For it will be with you always.
Remember also that in me are four ages.
I shall leave you now,
But shall look upon you in every age
And will return in the end.

The Sioux begged the woman to stay among them. They promised to build a fine lodge and let her select a warrior to provide for her, but she declined their offer.

No, the Creator above,
The Great Spirit,
Is happy with you
You the grandchildren.
You have listened well to my teachings.
Now I must return to the spirit world.

She walked some distance away from them and sat down. When she arose, she had become a white buffalo calf. She walked farther, bowed to the four quarters of the universe, then disappeared into the distance. Her sacred bundle was left with the people.

To this day, A Sioux family, the “Keepers of the Sacred Bundle,” still guards the bundle and its contents on one of the Sioux reservations.

Today, other ceremonies have supplanted some of the original seven ceremonies taught by the Buffalo Calf Woman. The Sun Dance, Sweat Lodge and Vision Quest are still major ceremonies that are widely practiced. The Pipe Ceremony itself is now used to open gatherings, meetings, and sweat lodges. The Pipe Ceremony is used in naming ceremonies, in which one is given an Earth or Indian name. It is also used in Indian marriage ceremonies.

When we pray in this way, with the sacred pipe, our prayers are carried through the smoke into the heavens to the Great Spirit, Wakan Tanka. In this way, we ask for Health, Help and Happiness for the People and the Earth. Asking for guidance is the first step, as we set our intentions, then paying attention to our surroundings and acting upon the answers we are given is up to each of us.

The Seven Sacred Rites

Seven traditional rituals use the sacred pipe in accordance with the Buffalo Calf Woman s teachings.

The Seven Sacred Rites
• The Keeping of the Soul
• Inipi: The Sweat Lodge Ceremony or Rite of Purification
• Hanblecheyapi: Vision Quest
• Wiwanyag Wachipi: The Sun Dance Ceremony
• Hunkapi: Making Relatives
• Ishnata Awicalowan: Preparing a Girl for Womanhood
• Tapa Wanka Yap: Throwing the Ball

*Special Note – To read the full version of the story of White Buffalo Calf Woman, in beautiful detail, as told by John Fire Lame Deer in 1967, please visit White Buffalo Calf Woman brings the first Pipe

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Today is a day for Myths and Legends. As I am homeschooling my daughter, we can choose any subject to explore, besides the usual academics. As Mythology just so happens to fall amongst our favorite subjects, and we follow the Path of the Lakota, we would like to share the Myth of Creation as told amongst the Lakota People…

~ The Myth of Wind Cave ~

In the beginning, prior to the creation of the earth, the gods resided in an undifferentiated celestial domain and humans lived in an indescribably subterranean world devoid of culture. Chief among the gods were Takushkanshkan (”something that moves”), the Sun, who is married to the Moon, with whom he has one daughter, Wohpe (”falling star”); Old Man and Old Woman, whose daughter Ite (”face”) is married to Wind, with whom she has four sons, the Four Winds. Among numerous other spirits, the most important is Inktomi (”spider”), the devious trickster. Inktomi conspires with Old Man and Old Woman to increase their daughter’s status by arranging an affair between the Sun and Ite. The discovery of the affair by the Sun’s wife leads to a number of punishments by Takushkanshkan, who gives the Moon her own domain, and by separating her from the Sun initiates the creation of time.

Old Man, Old Woman, and Ite are sent to earth, but Ite is separated from the Wind, her husband, who, along with the Four Winds and a fifth wind presumed to be the child of the adulterous affair, establishes space. The daughter of the Sun and the Moon, Wohpe, also falls to earth and later resides with the South Wind, the paragon of Lakota maleness, and the two adopt the fifth wind, called Wamniomni (”whirlwind”).

The Emergence..

Alone on the newly formed earth, some of the gods become bored, and Ite prevails upon Inktomi to find her people, the Buffalo Nation. In the form of a wolf, Inktomi travels beneath the earth and discovers a village of humans. Inktomi tells them about the wonders of the earth and convinces one man, Tokahe (”the first”), to accompany him to the surface. Tokahe does so and upon reaching the surface through a cave (Wind Cave in the Black Hills), marvels at the green grass and blue sky. Inktomi and Ite introduce Tokahe to buffalo meat and soup and shows him tipis, clothing, and hunting utensils. Tokahe returns to the subterranean village and appeals to six other men and their families to travel with him to the earth’s surface. When they arrive, they discover that Inktomi has deceived them: buffalo are scarce, the weather has turned bad, and they find themselves starving. Unable to return to their home, but armed with a new knowledge about the world, they survive to become the founders of the Seven Fireplaces.

The Seven Sacred Rites..

Wohpe (”Falling Star”) appears to the Lakota as a real woman during a period of starvation. She is discovered by two hunters, one of whom lusts for her. He is immediately covered by a mist and reduced to bones. The other hunter is instructed to return to his camp and tell the chief and people that she, “White Buffalo Calf Woman,” will appear to them the next day. He obeys, and a great council tipi is constructed. White Buffalo Calf Woman presents to the people a bundle containing the sacred pipe, and she tells them that in time of need they should smoke from the pipe and pray to Wakantanka for help. The smoke from the pipe will carry their prayers upward. She then instructs them in the seven sacred rites, most of which continue to form the basis of the Sacred Lakota way of Life today.

(To be Continued…)

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No matter the season, a gift from the heart to help those in desperate need brings such a great feeling. As I live and breathe my goals each day are to do something worthwhile to help the Earth’s wild creatures. There is a great danger to our four legged friends, the Gray Wolf. If we do not put a stop to aerial gunning in Alaska, these beautiful creatures will soon only be found in the books of History. This is very sad indeed, as these animals have a right to share this Earth alongside us, as part of the great Balance. Who are we to question Creation in deciding what may live and what we must drive into extinction? Has man lost all sense of honor and can no longer tell right from wrong? This is so obviously wrong to me, and my heart goes out to the Wolf, among many others suffering through human greed. There is no honor in killing animals in this way. Unless they have gone rogue, and are causing harm to others, they have every right to live just as you and I. Should we begin hunting humans because there are simply too many of us, and we no longer wish to share the land? As that would be abominally wrong, so it the senseless hunting of those struggling to survive in the rapidly dwindling natural world.

All Life is Sacred!

I am asking people to look into their hearts and consider adopting a Wolf. Or perhaps another animal of your choice. If this is something you feel drawn to, please visit the Wildlife Adoption Center to Adopt a Wolf.

Adopt a Gray Wolf Family and you’ll receive a big 17”, super-cuddly plush wolf toy, a personalized Certificate of Adoption with an attractive 5″x7″ wolf photo and a fact sheet full of great information about these magnificent animals. You can also choose to receive a Kids Wildlife Activities book for that special young person in your life.

As mentioned on the Wildlife Adoption Center adoption site, here is how things stand among the Wolf Family…

Once virtually eliminated from the lower 48 United States, wolves have made an incredible comeback since Defenders and others successfully fought for their re-introduction into Yellowstone National Park in 1995.

But these and other wolves in America face a highly uncertain future, as plans are readied to remove vital protections and clear the way for the massacre of hundreds of wolves in the Greater Yellowstone area and the American Southwest.

In Alaska, a state-sanctioned slaughter from the skies continues as aerial gunners shoot wolves from aircraft, or chase them to exhaustion, land and shoot wolves at point-blank range.

In the Greater Yellowstone region, one of the greatest conservation victories in decades could be destroyed as federal officials plan to lift critical protections for wolves — and turn over management duties to states that want to massacre hundreds of wolves within their borders.

In the Southwest, fewer than 60 wolves struggle to maintain a foothold in the wild as anti-wolf forces rally to eliminate their very existence.

But by Adopting a Gray Wolf Family, you’ll support our work to save these magnificent animals. We’re urging Congress to pass vital legislation to put an end to Alaska’s aerial gunning program — and prevent programs like it from spreading to states like Idaho and Wyoming.

We’re fighting to keep critical federal protections in place for gray wolves in the Greater Yellowstone and Northern Rockies region so that wolves will be protected for future generations. We’re on the ground in Arizona and New Mexico, countering anti-wolf misinformation to ensure that wolves have a future in the Southwest.

But our work doesn’t stop there. We continue to work with ranchers to compensate them for livestock losses attributed to wolves and to find ways to prevent conflicts between wolves and livestock before they occur.

Whether you Adopt a Gray Wolf Family, Adopt a Gray Wolf, Adopt a Gray Wolf Pack or Adopt a Gray Wolf Mom & Pup, you can take pride in knowing you’re doing your part to protect America’s majestic wolves for future generations to cherish.

Visit the Wildlife Adoption Center Today!

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I believe that global warming is a natural state of affair. The earth is always changing, and evolving, and throughout history we can see how many ancient species did not evolve and adapt as well as others. While it is certain man is causing this evolution of change in global proportions by depleting the planets defenses against such a rapid occurance, this change is ultimately innevitable, and a part of the natural balance. I found an article which relates directly to the results of natures evolution.

Nature and the Atlantic coast: ‘We are losing land to water’ 

The effects of global warming are devouring the coastline of New Brunswick and threatening its delicate ecosystems, natural beauty and native heritage.

Rising sea levels are already swamping plants natives use to make medicine and in religious ceremonies on the Elsipogtog First Nation. And at the Irving Eco-Centre in nearby Bouctouche, there is fear that the 12-kilometre stretch of sand dunes that date to the Ice Age and attract thousands of visitors each summer will eventually be washed away. Already, the tourism attraction’s boardwalk has been moved inland.

“You can delay things a little bit, but you can’t completely stop them from happening,” Kelly Honeyman, a naturalist at the Irving Eco-centre and the Irving Nature Park in Saint John, said. “I hate to be a pessimist, but even if you put in large rocks and pilings to preserve the dunes, like they are doing in the Carolinas, you are usually only safe for five to seven years.

“Water is almost lapping up against our dunes right now.”

Environment Canada predicts that the sea level along the Northumberland Strait will rise by nearly four feet by the year 2050. If that happens, the extraordinarily beautiful dunes would be destroyed and rare plants that are native to the area, such as the Gulf of St. Lawrence aster and seaside pinweed, would be wiped out.

Scientists and researchers from J.D. Irving, Limited, have been working with other groups and agencies to help preserve the aster, a threatened species, since 2004. In addition, the company has helped preserve a population of endangered piping plovers, shorebirds which use the dunes for nesting.

Dr. Liette Vasseur, a professor at Laurentian University, told researchers and academics at a conference in Ottawa last week that many of the things New Brunswickers hold dear and rely on will be lost unless people change their behaviour to curtail and adapt to climate change.

A former instructor at the Université de Moncton, Vasseur conducted studies on the effects of global warming and climate change on coastal communities in Atlantic Canada, including Bouctouche and Elsipogtog. She said her recent assessment of the First Nation shows that traditional sites for harvesting sweetgrass and other natural medicinal plants are already being threatened by erosion and flooding.

Josephine Augustine, an herbal healer who practices traditional medicine at Elsipogtog, said Tuesday that she is having more and more difficulty finding the plants she picks and uses to make remedies for allergies, arthritis, headaches, psoriasis and ulcers, among other ailments.

“It is getting and harder,” Augustine said from her office in the health centre at the First Nation, which is near Rexton. “We are losing land to water, and we are losing medicines here.

“People need to be educated about the environment, and they have to let Mother Nature take its course. We have to let people know the ramifications of what they are doing, make them understand that these plants have a purpose.”

A teacher in Moncton from 2001 to 2004, Vasseur said areas like Bouctouche will be hurt economically unless people adapt to environmental conditions such as the rising sea level. She said they need to build farther inland, and they need to leave natural barriers to coastal erosion, including trees and shrubs, in place.

“People like to have a nice, manicured lawn running all the way down to the water, but when they remove all the trees they increase the vulnerability to the impact of a storm. All in all, we need to reduce our footprint on the environment, and everybody can play a role in that.

“I’m optimistic that people could be very good at adapting to these changes if they got together, but they have to first understand what is causing the changes.”

Honeyman, the naturalist, has spent countless hours walking the boardwalk at the Irving Eco-centre. Tuesday he lamented the threat to one of his favourite places.

“Once you get 200 meters past our interpretive centre, you have a wonderful feeling of solitude and are buffeted by beautiful breezes off the Northumberland Strait. It is really a special spot.”

Note – Credit for this article goes to…
Marty Klinkenberg
Telegraph-Journal
Published Wednesday October 31st, 2007
Appeared on page A1
Telegraph Journal

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Ever so often I am greatly touched by a video… the song, as well as the visuals. Once again, my daughter has brought something quite worthy of sharing, to my attention. The Beauty and Wonder of the Earth and all that is magical in this world is brought to Life. What more can I say? Words will only get in the way, so I will just introduce this lovely video called “Mother Earth Enchanted”…

Yet again, I am reminded of the cruelty and selfishness of mankind. Of course, not all of us are intentionally wicked.. some of us only create unintentional harm. Yet those of us who realize the impact we have on the natural world choose to make a change for the better. And we love to encourage others to pay attention and do the same.

I have recieved another letter concerning a creature which is beloved and admired from my point of view. The Wolf. Why is man working so hard to rid the Earth of these beautiful animals? Can we not share the land with those which were placed here by the Creator, just the same as us? Mother Earth is home to all of us, and we should step into the role as Stewards and not Destroyers.

As quoted directly from the Defenders of Wildlife webpages.. “Alaska is the only state that allows private hunters to participate in the cruel and barbaric practice of aerial gunning of wolves. Alaskan wolves can be shot from airplanes — or chased to the point of exhaustion, then shot at close range. Across large areas of Alaska, no wolf is off limits — not even pregnant females. More than six hundred wolves have been killed over the past four winters with plans to target hundreds more in the coming years and open up new areas to aerial control.”

This is not, of course, the only place where wolves are being hunted into extinction. Yet this rips into my heart at this moment, so it is what I will ask from my heart for folks to step up and take action against!

Please take a few moments to visit Defenders of Wildlife today and sign the petition. If you are not in a position to donate that is fine, yet at the least we can let those in power know we will not stand for such wanton murder of our four-legged brothers and sisters we call Wolf. Little does man know what havoc is created when the Balance is destroyed…

Defenders of Wildlife

Legends of the Wolf

International Wolf Center

I wish to share this post in honor of my daughter who, like her mama, is quite passionate about the creatures we share this Earth with. She has shown an avid interest in finding ways to help preserve the natural habitats of the Animal Kingdom. She too would like to help save those who are in danger of extinction and is quite distressed about how many animals and plants have already become extinct, no longer to be seen upon Mother Earth. Such a burden and sad legacy we are leaving our young ones. In thanks for her dedication and research into these beloved animals(she did the research for this post), I shall share a bit about one of the Earth’s most graceful and regal felines. Here’s for you my little Star… the Tiger. 

Physical Description

The tiger is the largest cat species in the world; the largest tiger sub-species is the Siberian tiger. The approximate weight of the male is 500 pounds and the female is 300 pounds. The average length of the male tiger is 10 feet and the female 8 feet. The average height of a tiger is 3 feet. The appearance of the tiger depends to a great extent on where the animal lives. Tigers that live in cold regions are paler in colour and larger in size; their fur is long and thick. In warmer climates, tigers are smaller in size and more colourful; they have shorter, thinner fur. The fur on the tiger’s back is very thick and the stripes are pale. The colour of the Siberian tiger is yellowish-brown, while the Indian tiger is reddish-brown. The stripes on a tiger are very dark. Like all cats, tigers have sharp claws and teeth. A tiger’s canine teeth are 7.5 cm (3 in) long.

Habitat

Once tigers ranged from Java, Bali, southern Asia, eastern Turkey, to the eastern shores of Asia on the Okhotsk Sea, to the island of Sumatra, and to the west of India. Today, tigers are not found west of India or on the islands of Java and Bali. The remaining tigers are in China, Southern Asia, and Russia’s far east; these are mostly isolated habitats, and tigers are greatly reduced in numbers.

Depending on geographic locations, tigers can be found in a variety of habitats. They range from tropical forests, evergreen forests, ravines, woodlands, mangrove swamps, grasslands, savannas, and rocky country. Some other preferred habitats include dense thickets, long grass or tamarisk shrubs along river banks. Some tigers seem to take a special liking to old ruins for cover. Tigers rely on concealment for stalking and ambushing their prey; they seek areas with ample food, water and moderately dense cover. Tigers are adaptable animals; they can adapt to many different surroundings, as long as they have sufficient water, shade and food.

Food Supply

Tigers usually stalk their prey alone and at night. The maximum kill range for a tiger is 80 feet. To make a kill, the tiger leaps on the animal, biting its neck. It then takes the slain animal to some hidden spot. If it is a large animal, the tiger feeds on it for many days. During this time, the tiger does not kill again. Tigers prey on deer, moose, rabbits, birds, fish, bear, elk, lynx, hares, pigs, cattle, goats, and some smaller animals. The main food of tigers are buffalos, antelopes, and rodents.

Behavior

Tigers can move quickly and quietly. Springing with ease, tigers can cover 15 feet (4.5 meters) in one leap; they can jump long distances over obstacles and land. The tiger rarely climbs trees, but swims well. Tigers mate in April-May and October-November in India, November-February in Indochina and Sumatra, in Siberia all year round. The fertile female signals this through urine and scratches on the tree bark. In Siberia, with such vast territories, the female may go searching a male. The female is receptive just 3-7 days. The male mates for tens of time per day with the female, for several days, and bites her from the nape to stimulate her ovulation.

Life Cycle and Young

Young tigers or cubs are born from 100 to 112 days after parents have mated. Usually tiger cubs are born between February and May after a gestational period of three and a half months. The cubs weigh under three pounds at birth and are striped. The cubs’ eyes open in 15 to 16 days. a litter consists of 1 to 4 cubs, occasionally up to 6, but only 2 to 3 will survive. The mother is responsible for defending her cubs, while the father hunts for food. Tiger cubs are weaned at 4 to 6 months, but depend on their mother for food and protection for another 2 years; the new males entering a female tiger’s territory may kill her her cubs. Cubs learn how to kill at 16 months, and they are on their own at 2 to 3 years. The white ear spots help the mother tigers and cubs to keep track of each other in dim forests at night. The life spand of tigers is maximum 15 to 16 years. In zoos, tigers may live to be 20 years old, but they seldom live to be this old in the wild.

Enemies and Endangerment

The tiger has few enemies; besides humans, they are large buffaloes, elephants and bears. Its defence against other animals that may attack are its large claws and very powerful teeth. Tigers are excellent swimmers and climbers, which saves them from floods and other disasters, as well as protect them from their enemies. The tiger is a very cautious animal; it doesn’t like to hunt elephants or larger animals than itself, unless it is very hungry, or if its cubs or itself were attacked.

The main predator of the tiger is humankind. They have been trapped, poisoned and hunted heavily by humans not only to eliminate threats to livestock, but also for sport, trophies, skins, and sources of traditional medical products. Superstition has surrounded tigers for centuries; their body parts are used in Asian medicines. Necklets of tiger claws are thought to protect a child from “the evil eye”; tiger whiskers are considered either a dreadful poison (in Malaysia), a powerful aphrodisiac (in Indonesia), or an aid to childbirth (in India and Pakistan); the bones, fat, liver and penis of a tiger are prized as medicines.

Humans have also altered the natural habitats of tigers by their destruction and encroachment on the tigers’ feeding range; humans are destroying their habitats by cutting down trees, moving into their preferred locations, polluting the water and air, and hunting their prey.

The tiger population of the Indian subcontinent has suffered a serious decline in the last 50 years. It is estimated that only 200 tigers survived in Nepal, and only 4,000 in India, up from 2,000 in the 1970s. In the 1990s, poaching has escalated in China and Korea, in spite of the Chinese ban on tiger products in 1993. At one point in the 1970s, tigers’ numbers had dropped to 4,000 compared to 100,000 in the early 1900s. Today, the world tiger population still only numbers about 5,000 to 7,000 animals. An intense effort is under way to save the endangered tigers. Unfortunately, tigers are still illegally hunted for their fur, bones and other parts to supply markets in China and Taiwan. Tigers have been hunted to near extinction by poachers, and all subspecies have been declared endangered.

Learn more and be pro-active in helping these lovely animals by visiting…

Defenders of Wildlife

Save the Tiger Fund

Tigers in Crisis