Back from Sundance 2008
Posted by msterilinn on Jul 10, 2008
After an incredible two and a half weeks of camping, we are back to our residence near the city. We have had such wonderful experiences, and just too much to give due credit in one post, so I will just summarize it as best as I can for now. My son J helped us load up and get to the land up above Goldendale. We camped in our usual spot beneath the beautiful Oak tree, to enjoy much needed afternoon shade. As the temperatures reached above 109 degrees in the shade, we were lucky to have such a sweet place to rest upon occasion. The hottest day during the Sundance brought a welcome rainstorm, with much fanfare from the Thunder Beings, the Wakiyans. If the little girls I was caring for were not so terrified of the storm, I would have been dancing in the rain. As it were, I was able to reach out with my feet from the shelter I provided for the children to get a nice soak.
The Isnati Lawanpi (girl to young woman) Ceremony was beautiful to behold. It brought tears to many eyes to see these young girls step forth with such grace into young womanhood. What a gift it is to see this Cermony celebrating such an important time in a young girls life. It is very important to honor these steps in the lives of our boys and girls. Sometimes the events in our world move us much too rapidly to truly enjoy each moment as it unfolds.
As for the Sundance, I feel doubly honored this year. First of all, I was moved to tears to see and feel the grace of our lovely little Sundance tree. She swayed so sweetly in the breeze as she carried the prayers of the people amongst her branches. Such an image of Beauty shall be held within my heart forever. The sound of the drum and the prayer songs full of Love and Hope, as sung by the people as we danced around the Tree of Life, is a memory I shall hold dear when times in the faster world threaten to bring me down.
The greatest gift I recieved during this ceremony, was brought to me through the Children. I had the honor of caring for three young girls, besides my little S, as their mothers were otherwise occupied. The other children invariably navigated towards our little circle, and one girl in particular spent much of her time with our group. Amazingly enough, I had not even a single problem arise with these little ones for companions! Such fond memories of stories, songs, and laughter are treasures of my heart which gives such Joy to think upon. I shall miss those little ones! Although I missed the mothers of these mischievious little girls, as they are my very dear friends, this was a gift and an honor I shall never forget. My little S was such a great help in those busy days as I rose before the sun, and did not rest my head until well after the sun went down.
It truly felt good to hold my family close, as we all live so far away from each other. For two weeks we were able to catch up, sharing this time with Songs, Dance, Prayers, Laughter, Tears and Feasting. Enjoying the fellowship of our Brothers, Sisters, Aunties, Uncles, Elders and Children just seems to fill me up with courage to re-enter the world that moves much faster and is filled with uncertainty and danger. For a short time we held each other close and reaffirmed our love for the Earth and all her bounties, bringing forth hope for the present and future of our children. We must move forward in a good way, honoring and respecting the Earth and all living things, until the time comes for us to gather once again when it is time to go Home.
My little S and I had an awesome Sundance, with so many memories of friends, family and walks through nature to find new magical places to sit and enjoy together. And the nights when we summed up our adventures of the day, along with silent moments of star gazing, will be held dear to our hearts forever and always.
Pilamaye,
Teri
~
Heading for Goldendale Washington…
Posted by msterilinn on Jun 20, 2008
Just so folks know why I am not around, it is that time of year when we head out to go camping for two weeks. We have an Isnati Lawanpi (young girl to woman ceremony), a memorial for a beloved family member who crossed last year, and our Sundance to attend. We choose to follow the path of the Lakota peoples, as this is a natural way, with respect for the Earth and all her inhabitants. This is such a special time for us, as it is always good to gather together with family and friends in this way. So, I just wish to say that I hope folks enjoy each moment and each other… our time on this plane is so precious.
Pilamaye,
Teri
~
Sacred Buffalo.. Releasing the Spirits Ceremony
Posted by msterilinn on Apr 4, 2008
Please open your hearts and add your prayers. Mark your Calenders for this Date…
April 15th, 2008 - Noon Gardiner, MT
Simultaneous Prayer Vigils are encouraged to pray for the 1,302 (+) buffalo that have been carelessly slaughtered this winter alone and the thousands more slaughtered in the past decade since the last Releasing the Spirit Ceremony held back in 1997!
From Chief Arvol Looking Horse
Mi-ta-ku-ye (my relatives),
I have been called upon to perform the Spirit Releasing ceremony for the thousands of buffalo that have lost their lives in the last decade, in the mountains of the Yellowstone River country.
Many, many generations ago, our relatives, the Pte O-ya-te (Buffalo People) came up from Wind Cave in the Black Hills; the heart of Un-ci Ma-ka (Grandmother Earth) and prepared the way for our existence. From that time forward, they gave of themselves for our survival, as long as we respected their gift. They taught us how to live in an honorable and respectful way by example and through the teachings of the White Buffalo Calf Woman. She brought the Sacred Canupa (Pipe) to remind us of our responsibilities and also provided us with the knowledge of the sacred rites that are necessary to discipline ourselves.
From the Buffalo Nation, our ancestors learned to have an honorable relationship of being connected with Un-ci Ma-ka; this “way of life” that identifies us of who we are as an O-ya-te (a People), with all it’s sacred teachings. They understood the gifts from Un-ci and carefully lived in harmony with her wellbeing. For that reason, we hold them to be sacred. We co-existed in a good way until we were nearly destroyed. Ob un-ka-so-ta-pi tka. The sacred Buffalo Nation in these mountains are the survivors of that natural way of life. We are culturally and spiritually indebted to them and we still need their guidance, to remind us how to be at peace and harmony with Un-ci Ma-ka.
Let it be known that Yellowstone territory; the habitat of the last wild Buffalo Nation - is sacred ground, it has been a SACRED SITE for the First Nation’s people, and for all humanity who hold deep respect for all Creation. The Buffalo Nation has confirmed this fact; by where they have ended up, continuing to survive in their natural migration, struggling to live in a peaceful manner. Our ancestors also gave us this message by fasting in this area long ago, as they recognized this place of sacredness. This understanding is how we maintain the balance upon Un-ci Ma-ka, to protect these places, especially for the survival of our future generations to come.
These Buffalo that lost their lives in Yellowstone did not die by Natural Law, nor were their spirits honored with ceremony. This is why we must go there to perform a ceremony of honor for those that lost their lives by the misunderstanding of human-kind and pray to Wakan Tankan (Great Spirit) for pity of how gifts were unappreciated. We must pray with all those who grieve and be grateful for them. Many of the people who are deeply concerned of what has happened in the manner of which their lives were taken; we see this as an unnecessary massacre. We have known that this particular herd is the last original Buffalo Nation that still follows their migration pattern, the little that is left intact; they are the sign of our connection to our wellbeing of living in harmony.
I humbly ask for all People to make prayers on April 15th, at high noon; for a healing of humanity - for the decisions that are being made with no regard for the sacredness of life, for the massacred Buffalo’s spiritual journey and to protect what is left - in understanding of what our journey in this life represents in being responsible! We must pray for the healing of the human Spirit, to understand the connection to all living beings on Un-ci Ma-ka (Mother Earth).
In a Sacred Hoop of Life, where there is no ending and no beginning!
Can-te Mi-ta-wa I-ta-han (from my heart)
Chief Arvol Looking Horse
19th Generation Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe
Note - 100’s more could be slaughtered, please let your voice be heard by visiting Defenders of Wildlife Today!
Help us Save Our Tribal Youth
Posted by msterilinn on Feb 29, 2008
Greetings Friends of SOTY:
In addition to Pine Ridge and the Navajo reservations, SOTY is working with the Northern Cheyenne in child sponsorship - yes, we know you are all waiting and we thank you for your patience. We hear from our friends on the rez’s who are putting together the lists that with winter being so hard and still on-going, the progress has been slow because just keeping up with daily life is hard enough. But thank you for your patience and understand that your desire to sponsor a child will be met soon - thank you!!
IN THE MEANTIME - IN ADDITION TO DONATIONS OF COATS AND WARM FOOTWEAR FOR PINE RIDGE (along with DONATIONS FOR FORWARDING THOSE ITEMS greatly appreciated), WE ARE GEARING UP FOR THE SUMMER MONTHS BY HELPING THE NORTHERN CHEYENNE.
PLEASE READ BELOW HOW YOU CAN HELP NOW! IT’S EASY!!! MAKE A DIFFERENCE TODAY AND HELP OUR TRIBAL YOUTH!!
The Northern Cheyenne have started a grass roots effort within their tribe to build a summer camp (to begin with) and an eventual on-going program for their youth. They have asked us to ask our supporters to help them begin their efforts this spring with the following easy to mail items = SEEDS!!!
The aim of the program is to teach the youth how to return to the SELF-SUSTAINING life of their ancestors and that begins with sowing seeds for their own gardens. The intention is for the gardens to also provide nutritional and nourishing food year-round for the youth and families as well.
What’s needed?? They are requesting seed packets of the following items:
corn
squash (of various kinds)
beans
carrots
raddish
cabbage
lettuce
and other hearty vegetable seeds that can survive cool nights in the mountains and plains.
The camp will be in Lame Deer, Montana and they can also use whatever garden supplies or gift cards to places like Home Depot or WalMart (for building supplies) that anyone feels like sending.
YOU CAN BUY A SEED PACKET OR TWO TODAY AND PUT THEM IN AN ENVELOPE AND MAIL IT OFF. YOU CAN HELP FEED A GREAT MANY WITH A SINGLE PACKET OF SEEDS - IT’S A BEGINNING AND THEY WELCOME YOUR DESIRE TO WANT TO HELP WITH THIS SIMPLE DONATION.
Please mail your donation of vegetable seeds to:
Cheyenne Freedom Camp
PO Box 628
Lame Deer, MT 59043
We will keep you updated here on Myspace and on our website: www.saveourtribalyouth.com as news and progress of this project continues.
Thank you for your help and support for all our tribal youth!!
All of us at Save Our Tribal Youth
How the Buffalo were released on Earth
Posted by msterilinn on Feb 25, 2008
My daughter is part Apache, so for her I shall relate a Legend of the Comanche and Apache People… Enjoy my little Star!
In the first days a powerful being named Humpback owned all the buffalo. He kept them in a corral in the mountains north of San Juan, where he lived with his young son.
Not one buffalo would Humpback release for the people on Earth, nor would he share any meat with those who lived near him.
Coyote decided that something should be done to release the buffalo from Humpback’s corral. He called the people to a council. “Humpback will not give us any buffalo,” Coyote said. “Let us all go over to his corral and make a plan to release them.”
They camped in the mountains near Humpback’s place, and after dark they made a careful inspection of his buffalo enclosure. The stone walls were too high to climb, and the only entrance was through the back door of Humpback’s house.
After four days Coyote summoned the people to another council, and asked them to offer suggestions for releasing the buffalo. “There is no way,” said one man. “To release the buffalo we must go into Humpback’s house, and he is too powerful a being for us to do that.”
“I have a plan,” Coyote said. “For four days we have secretly watched Humpback and his young son go about their daily activities. Have you not observed that the boy does not own a pet of any kind?”
The people did not understand what this had to do with releasing the buffalo, but they knew that Coyote was a great schemer and they waited for him to explain. “I shall change myself into a killdeer,” Coyote said. “In the morning when Humpback’s son goes down to the spring to get water, he will find a killdeer with a broken wing. He will want this bird for a pet and will take it back into the house. Once I am in the house I can fly into the corral, and the cries of a killdeer will frighten the buffalo into a stampede. They will come charging out through Humpback’s house and be released upon the Earth.”
The people thought this was a good plan, and the next Morning when Humpback’s son came down the path to the spring he found a killdeer with a crippled wing. As Coyote had foreseen, the boy picked up the bird and carried it into the house.
“Look here,” the boy cried. “This is a very good bird!”
“It is good for nothing!” Humpback shouted. “All the birds and animals and people are rascals and schemers.” Above his fierce nose Humpback wore a blue mask, and through its slits his eyes glittered. His basket headdress was shaped like a cloud and was painted black with a zig-zag streak of yellow to represent lightning. Buffalo horns protruded from the sides.
“It is a very good bird,” the boy repeated.
“Take it back where you found it!” roared Humpback, and his frightened son did as he was told.
As soon as the killdeer was released it returned to where the people were camped and changed back to Coyote. “I have failed,” he said, “but that makes no difference. I will try again in the morning. Perhaps a small animal will be better than a bird.”
The next morning when Humpback’s son went to the spring, he found a small dog there, lapping at the water. The boy picked up the dog at once and hurried back into the house. “Look here!” he cried. “What a nice pet I have.”
“How foolish you are, boy!” Humpback growled. “A dog is good for nothing. I’ll kill it with my club.”
The boy held tight to the dog, and started to run away crying.
“Oh, very well,” Humpback said. “But first let me test that animal to make certain it is a dog. All animals in the world are schemers.” He took a coal of fire from the hearth and brought it closer and closer to the dog’s eyes until it gave three rapid barks. “It is a real dog,” Humpback declared. “You may keep it in the buffalo corral, but not in the house.”
This of course was exactly what Coyote wanted. As soon as darkness fell and Humpback and his son went to sleep, Coyote opened the back door of the house. Then he ran among the buffalo, barking as loud as he could. The buffalo were badly frightened because they had never before heard a dog bark. When Coyote ran nipping at their heels, they stampeded toward Humpback’s house and entered the rear door. The pounding of their hooves awakened Humpback, and although he jumped out of bed and tried to stop them, the buffalo smashed down his front door and escaped.
After the last of the shaggy animals had galloped away, Humpback’s son could not find his small dog. “Where is my pet?” he cried. “Where is my little dog?”
“That was no dog,” Humpback said sadly. “That was Coyote the Trickster. He has turned loose all our buffalo.”
Thus it was that the buffalo that were released to scatter over all the Earth.
Voices from the Longest Walk 2008
Posted by msterilinn on Feb 25, 2008
It is absolutely incredible to see and hear such an outpouring of Love and dedication to help bring about awareness in helping our beautiful Earth. The Longest Walk 2008 is about hope and a message to the world about how important it is to save our Sacred Sites, and the people of Mother Earth. So many are suffering along with the Land, and Spirit moves us to do more to manifest the healing necessary for all Life to thrive on this planet we inhabit whilst in human form. I would like to take this time to share with you the stories and voices from the Longest Walk, and ask that you look into your hearts and give your thoughts and prayers for this important cause.
Visit The Longest Walk 1978 - 2008 and listen to the voices of the People. I will share a small sample of words spoken from the heart.
In the words of Shunsho Yamada = Japanese Coordinator and Translator…
“Many Japanese are interested in Indian culture and Indian ceremonies and philosophies. Japanese people are also interested in this Walk because Japan is facing tragedy. The Japanese suicide rate is 35,000 people per year – many due to economic hardship faced by suddenly losing their jobs. Also, Japanese summer temperatures are very high due to global warming and the typhoons are attacking very hard these days.
Japanese people have lost our religion and our spirituality in the last 60 years so we cannot find the way to undo the tragedy from our hearts. So many Japanese came here for the Walk that is happening. But also in speaking to the Japanese people, I would like to say that this Walk is one of the ways we can make a statement for healing and we need to do something from our hearts. Here there is much happiness for the future and we can see the hope for the future.
Many people have made huge sacrifices to be here – many have given up their jobs to be here. They are thinking very seriously about the future and they come here to seek the hope of the future. We will also be thinking about having a Walk or movement in Japan.
We live to be happy. Money is not a way to happiness. You can use money for a good way. Money spent in this way is Spirit. No money has value if you keep it. But if you give it, it then has value and that is the meaning of the good way.
It is a great honor to be here.”
I wrote another post recently on the The Longest Walk 2008, in case you are interested in reading about it here on my Blog. Or you may just visit their site to see what this is all about and get involved!
Seven Virtues on Canku Luta and the Canunpa
Posted by msterilinn on Dec 4, 2007
Today I have been reminded of all I have learned as I follow the Path of the Lakota. All living things are Sacred, and we are responsible for passing along this Wisdom to our Children, so they may in turn teach their Children. As I give these teachings to my daughter and my grandchildren, I feel in my heart such Joy in knowing I am giving them a Sacred gift.
So much has been lost, and this leaves many people lost as well. There are certain guidelines in which the Earth Nations should follow to live as good human beings in Balance with each other and Nature. There is no need to complicate matters with gazillions of Laws, when the Creator instilled a perfect set of Laws long, long ago. The people on Canku Luta (The Red Road) were also gifted the Sacred Canunpa (pipe) through White Buffalo Calf Woman, to help the people in a great time of need. Those who carry this Sacred pipe have a responsibility to the people and their families, and give of themselves to help through prayers and Ceremony. In this way, we have been given the guidelines and tools to live Life on this Sacred Mother Earth in a good way.
So without further ado, I would like to outline the Virtues as taught to me by my Elders.
7 Laws or Virtues on Canku Luta
* Carry the welfare of the people in your heart… Share, Give and be Generous.
* Have Pity and Compassion for all living and moving things.
* Have Respect and show this respect by Honoring the moving and living.
* Have a good mind and use it to learn Patience, Tolerence and Self-discipline.
* Seek Humility and be humble at all times.
* Be Brave, Courageous and have Fortitude. Have Spiritual Principals and live them at all times.
* To Grow in Wisdom and so understand and live these laws at all times and places.
White Buffalo Calf Womans Sacred Gift
Posted by msterilinn on Nov 29, 2007
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.
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:
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:
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.
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
Today, other ceremonies have supplanted some of the original seven ceremonies taught by the Buffalo Calf Woman. T
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 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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The Lakota Creation Myth… Wind Cave
Posted by msterilinn on Nov 27, 2007
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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The Sweat Lodge… House of the Stone People
Posted by msterilinn on Oct 8, 2007
The old Greeks wrote about the strange people to the north who would whip themselves with pine boughs and climb into little huts with hot stones to make their bodies perspire. A contributor for Smithsonian Magazine wrote years ago about the discovery in Siberia of structures made from the rib bones of mastodons with piles of stones in each center. In Finland it’s called a sauna. Naturopathic physicians call it hydrotherapy. My Lakota grandfather called it Tunkan Ti, the house of the Stone People, or Inipikaga, ceremony to renew the life force. The structure is called “tezi,” meaning Mother Earth’s womb. Warm, dark and safe, our spirits grow inside the structure, and as we exit we are reborn each time, greeting all of our relatives in creation with the words “Mitakuye Oyasin,” or “We are all relatives.” It is a “keya,” the turtle, as well. Shaped like a turtle with the earthen altar as its head, it represents “Turtle Island,” our North American continent, named so from old stories that speak of the Earth coming out of the water on the back of a giant turtle. It is our church, our hospital and our university that we never graduate from. The White Nation calls it Sweat Lodge, but there is so much more, in addition to sweating, that happens inside.
The Stone People Lodge is most importantly a place of purification and prayer meant to heal the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual parts of the self through ritual. Native families who have preserved the ceremony have done so by suffering through years of persecution.
Christian churches were assigned by our Government to run the early concentration camps called Reservations, where food and supplies were denied to those who would not accept forced Christian conversion. My family was one of those who suffered to keep the instructions given to us by the Creator Spirit through prayer and purification. These sacrifices are why we still have our ceremonies today.
The whole structure is gathered and assembled with prayer. Saplings used are spoken to as “spirit to spirit” and “two-legged to standing people,” as they are given offerings in exchange for their “robe.” Even a song is sung to them to ask for their help. The trees help us willingly; they rarely say “no,” and we always remember to thank them. Holes for the saplings are made into our mother Earth, and into these holes are placed prayer with tobacco or cornmeal. The cut saplings are shaped into a structure that looks like an upside-down basket.
In the center of this, a small pit is dug to receive the hot stones. When this pit is opened, it is said that Grandmother is listening to our words, thoughts and intentions for this sacred place.
Our stones are gathered far away in the West where the lava has spilled onto the earth. Offerings are made to these (stone) People, and we listen to them with our spirit to find the ones who are willing to come with us. We are reminded that all things are alive and have consciousness according to their nature. It may seem strange to talk to a stone. But, try it sometime when no one is looking. Sit quietly with a stone and listen closely. It may take a few attempts to quiet your mind and connect spirit to spirit. See what answer your mind reflects from this part of creation that will still be here long after we are earth again.
We awaken and recreate fire in a pit called “old man four generations.” The fire itself is called “oehunkeshni,” or fire without end. It is a spirit and also very much alive. This spirit enters the stones and paints their face red and is brought into the “inipi” (place where we renew our life force) through these Stone People. The structure is covered in blankets instead of traditional buffalo hide. Water, sometimes infused with plant medicines, is offered to the hot stones. The water gives them voices as they hiss in their own language. The old songs are sung in the same order they have been sung for a thousand years, like a very old, worn and familiar path. A spirit or angel shows up as it has for a thousand years and asks, “Grandson or Granddaughter, what is it you need?.” “We ask for health and help for our People!” “Wichozani na wokiyektelo.”
Those who were taught this ceremony, passed down through generations, were taught without any thought of personal gain. There is never any charge for this ritual, as it was given to the two-legged for free and must be given freely for the help of one’s people. Families and extended families will sweat together. Men and women who are unrelated rarely sweat together as they are a distraction to each other.
Also, traditional people do not sweat naked in mixed company. Men and women who have committed themselves to the responsibility of learning this way give years of service to learn the songs, the prayer and the ritual. Everyone who leads a Sweat Lodge has someone they are responsible to so that no one is on their own to do as they please.
There are many who pretend to know these ways and exploit people. There are some who mean well but may hurt people through their own inexperience. East of the Mississippi, there are fewer traditional native people due to the ethnic cleansing that took place here generations ago and the prejudice that still exists today. Fortunately, President Jimmy Carter passed the Freedom of Religion Act for Native People in 1978, and now prayer does not have to be practiced invisibly.
If you have the opportunity to participate in this ceremony, always be respectful to that family and nation’s tradition by following their guidelines of conduct. The rules are in place for important reasons that may be understood later. If you cannot find your local inipi, then jump in a sauna and do your hydrotherapy. Purify yourself and keep your prayer inside and private. Know that Spirit hears all and knows your intention, no matter where you are.
Hetchtu, Mitakuye Oyasin. As I have said, we are all related.
Paul is the son of Lakota elder Buck GhostHorse and intercessor for the Sungleska Oyate Sundance in Washington state. He follows the traditional teachings of his family.
This article is by courtesy of New Life Journal
An interesting site relating to the Sweat Lodge
Earth and Spirit… A tree planting Ceremony
Posted by msterilinn on Oct 2, 2007
Saturday morning, October 13th, Jake Swamp will preside over a Tree of Peace Planting Ceremony. Over a thousand years ago, the Peacemaker and Aiionwatha (Hiawatha) brought the Great Law of Peace (Kaianerekowa) to the warring Indian nations of what is now New York State. The message of Peace, Power, and the Good Mind resulted in the forming of the Haudenosaunee Iroquois Confederacy. These nations were instructed to bury their weapons of war under the Great Tree of Peace. The Tree Planting Ceremony that Chief Swamp shares is an effort to bring awareness to environmental and social concerns.
Jake Swamp has been a Mohawk Sub-Chief and representative on the Grand Council of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and is an internationally renowned speaker on Indigenous, environmental and social issues. He was directly involved in the creation of the
Akwesasne Freedom School - a Mohawk language immersion school of critical acclaim that has been an inspiration to many First Nation peoples in the
What are the indigenous roots of our democracy? Are there other traditions that point the way to a satisfying and sustainable future of peace and consensus?
Lecture: Jake Swamp, Tekaronianeken, will appear at the Natural Way-Indigenous Voices on Friday evening, October 12, 2007, to discuss the traditions of peace and democracy originating amongst his people, the Haudenosaunee or Iroquois Confederacy. As the role models for the Founding Fathers in the writing of the US Constitution, the Haudenosaunee have much experience to share with younger, struggling democracies.
The Natural Way Indigenous Voices begins its ninth season in October, 2007. The mission of this program is to honor all traditions that value the earth. We provide a forum for those who strive to preserve and enhance earth-based, sustainable living to share their traditions, knowledge and beliefs about the earth.
Crop Circles.. man-made or visits from the Star Nations?
Posted by msterilinn on Aug 28, 2007
Some believe Crop Circles to be a great hoax, while others believe these extraordinary phenomenons are indeed visits and messages from the Star Nations. They are mathematically precise, wonderous and mysterious. Since I truly believe we cannot possibly be the only intelligent beings in the Universe, and most certainly not the leaders in advanced civilization and star travel, I would consider these Circles gifts from the Star Nation.
Researching the messages inherent in these images, and their relation to Sacred Symblogy, is a passion among many. One such man is Rod Bearcloud Berry, artist and traditional Native American, of the Star Nation Gallery.
If you look deep into Bearclouds work, stories of Ancient Symbols and Native American spirituality seem to come alive. You can find some of his amazing and spiritually uplifting artwork featured at the Bearcloud Gallery.
You may wish to take a look into the beliefs of Bearclouds people, who are of the clan called the Tiz-sho, which means the Sky People clan. He will give answer from his point of view to the question Who are the Star Nation People?
I ran across a very interesting article on a little known event that happened nearly 100 years ago. This event happened on the Podkamennaja Tunguska River in Siberia at 7:17AM local time on 30 June, 1908. Very few people know about the Tunguska event, mainly because it occurred in a remote and inaccessible part of Siberia in Russia so long ago. By all accounts the Tunguska event was a massive explosion, or series of explosions in rapid succession, which has been likened to the explosive force of 40 megatons of TNT, and 2,000 times more powerful than the nuclear bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945. The event resulted in the devastation of 2,150 square kilometres of thickly forested wilderness (taiga), and an estimated 60 million trees were felled. You can read about this extraordinary phenomenom at The Tunguska Crop Circle
For more interesting information about Crop Circles, visit the following sites…
Sacred Bear Butte
Posted by msterilinn on Apr 29, 2007
On the Northeastern edge of the Black Hills, just a few miles from the small town of Sturgis, off Highway 34, lies one of the most sacred mountains to the Plains Indians from the United States and Canada.
Up to 60 different tribes traveled to Bear Butte to fast and pray. Separated by about 8 miles of prairie from the greater Black Hills, which are also considered sacred by these same nations of people, Bear Butte looks like a sleeping bear lying on its side with its head pointed toward the northeast.
Today, people from all over the world come to Bear Butte to pray, to meditate, to try to experience some of the spiritual connection that has been there from the beginning of time.
It is at Bear Butte that Native American tribes received spiritual messages and gifts. In the holy books of the Christians, Moslems, and Jews, it is stated that one of their spiritual leaders, Moses, did the same thing on Mount Sinai when he received the ten commandments.
More than 4,000 years ago, a Cheyenne man named Sweet Medicine received guidance and gifts for the Cheyenne people at Bear Butte. Today, the Cheyenne people continue to come to Bear Butte to fast and pray. Some of the Southern Cheyenne must travel hundreds of miles from Oklahoma where they were displaced by the United States cavalry in the late 1800s when the Cheyenne nation was under threat of extinction.
Geologists, on the other hand, call Bear Butte a lacolith, or a bubble of magma that did not become a complete volcano. They say this happened millions of years ago. Yet the Oglala Lakota (Sioux) people call this place, Groaning Bear. How did the Oglalas know that this mountain groaned?
Non Indian archeologists estimate that Native people have been present in the Black Hills for 11,000 years. The origin stories of the Lakota people tell of the time of the arrival of the Sioux people on the face of Mother Earth through another sacred place, now called Wind Cave. Lakota people also have stories of when dinosaurs, called giant lizards, roamed the earth, of when tiny horses were here, and cats with huge teeth stalked buffalo. These stories date back much farther than 11,000 years.
All the tribes of the Sioux people: Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota, came to Bear Butte to pray…and still do. The months of May, June, and July will see families camped at the base while a relative is standing on the side of the mountain fasting in deep meditation. Small colored pieces of cloth containing pinches of tobacco are wrapped around trees and bushes as prayer gifts to the Creator. Larger flags of red, white, black, or yellow, the sacred colors, also are tied to trees to carry the prayers to all the directions.
Bear Butte, the mountain proper, is currently a National Historic Landmark managed by the South Dakota Game Fish and Parks Department. Although a few parcels of adjacent land has been purchased by some Native American nations, the rest of the surrounding area is ranchland, or is being sold to developers. Two drag racing strips, a biker bar, a convenience store, campgrounds, and housing developments are all located within a few miles of this sacred place.
By Charmaine Whiteface
Dreaming Your Song.. An interview of Lakota spiritual teacher Paul GhostHorse
Posted by msterilinn on Apr 9, 2007
I would like to share a teaching from my dear freind Paul Ghosthorse, a Spiritual leader in my Lakota Tiospe.Dreaming Your Song
New Life Journal interviews Lakota spiritual teacher Paul Ghost Horse.
By Erin Everett
Paul Ghost Horse is a Lakota ceremonial leader who lives in
western NC and teaches and conducts ceremonies throughout the
country. His spiritual grandfather is Lakota elder and author
Wallace Black Elk, and he continues his family’s teaching tradition
by sharing some wisdom with New Life Journal readers. We are
honored to offer his words.
PGH: Years ago, when my grandfather was a young man, he went
on a hill for hanblecheyapi (vision quest), crying for a vision, and
an Eagle came to him. The Eagle gave him a song, and when songs
are given to native people, it’s always given in ceremony. The
song connects spirit to spirit; and so when the spirit gives us song,
they don’t give it with words. They give it with sound, so the
information is transferred from spirit to spirit, the spirit messenger
of Creation to the spirit of human being, through the medium of
sound vibration. So the Eagle came to my grandfather and gave
him this song, and there are no words in this song because people
fight wars over words and get into theological debate over
meaning, but this song is a song of encouragement for the two-
leggeds, so that they never give up in the struggle to become
human beings. The Eagle said this song is going to fly around the
world, and so this song has been sung in North and South America,
in Europe and in Africa. It’s been sung in Hawaii and Russia. And
it’s the song of the Eagle. There are no words to this song because
it’s still a new song. It’s still in a pure state; it has not been
contaminated with words and impressions about what it means.
As I was told: long ago, there was a people and they lived in a
place of paradise. They were very happy with themselves, and they
lived in the spirit of this garden. They had all they wanted to eat
and they needed no clothes, and everything was fine. And the
Spirit said, “Well, you can have anything in this garden you want,
but don’t eat from my apple tree. This tree here: this one is mine.
You can’t eat from this tree, but all the rest, they are yours.”
So the two-leggeds, being as they are, were attracted to that apple
tree, so they ate from that tree. They blamed the snake and they
blamed woman. But both man and woman were lured to that tree.
The snake was an unfortunate bystander. So the people ate from
that apple tree, and they had an understanding, they had a
knowledge. They knew they wanted to start building, creating, they
wanted to be like Creator. And the Creator was upset and chased
them out of that garden for disobeying, so they left in pain and
guilt.
But they left that place with new eyes to see and they traveled all
around the world with that pain and with that guilt, and they passed
it on to other people like a virus. All around the earth, passing it on
from person to person. Many of them wandered in the desert and
they prayed and prayed and a spirit came, a war spirit. They prayed
to this war spirit, and it gave them success in battle. They learned
technology, and they started drifting away from the earth. They
started traveling around the earth, conquering other people.
This place where we live is Turtle Island. This is our paradise, this
is our place, our Garden of Eden. The Creator never chased us out
of the Garden of Eden. We have not one story in all our history of
disobeying our creator and being punished. If something so
important had happened to us, we would remember. Original sin,
that is someone else’s story. It is not ours. These people who came
with guilt on their soul, they passed that on to the people here and
chased the people here out of the Garden of Eden. They came in
pain and trashed our paradise. It is said that there is a holy land
across the ocean, but this land here is holy and sacred and
everything here is that paradise.
It is still here under the pavement! My Grandfather says that we
are the sixth generation to live beyond the end of the world. Some
people are talking about an Armageddon coming, almost with
relish and enthusiasm. Six generations ago-seven generations
now-the last of the free buffalo were killed and the People were
put in concentration camps called reservations. Everyone was
given a number, registration and pedigree. The prophecies were
that we would be living in square houses and that the earth would
be covered in stone, and so here we are living in that age now
where there are roads everywhere and we can no longer drink from
the earth to cleanse ourselves, and the air itself is dark and smoky.
We are the sixth generation to live beyond the end of the world.
And we are trying to find our way. We are trying to understand
how to live in this life. The hunting is gone, so the new hunting is
in jobs, and we live in debt. We are trying to figure it out, trying to
find our way.
Everyone is born with an instruction in this life. As little children,
we are still connected to that spirit. We are born with an instruction
for what we are supposed to do in this world, the little puzzle that
is our life and how it fits in place. And then we lose our way very
shortly after because of the way we are raised in our society. All of
us are damaged now by the way we are educated and because the
food we eat is tortured and contaminated. This hurts our body and
our spirit.
For thousands of years, we’ve been drifting away from creation
and the original understanding of fire, rock, water and the green.
Those are the four elements in the Lakota way of being. So we
have drifted very far from that place. Where we are going, we
don’t know.
We have prophecies, and they shoot off into the future like an
arrow, but those things can be changed. Everything changes. There
is an old Greek philosopher called Heraclitus who said, “All things
are becoming.” There is an old Stones song that says, “All things
shall pursue,” which means that everything changes. The only
constant in the Lakota way of being is that everything is going to
be different tomorrow. Everything changes. So we sit in the middle
of the wheel; hochoka, we call it. That circle with the cross at the
center. We sit in the center and watch the universe all around us
changing from day to day in this kaleidoscope. Our grandmother,
the Earth, how she is clothed: her dress is white, her dress is
brown, her dress is covered with flowers, her dress is green and is
ever-changing. And our Father in the sky: his robe is blue and he
wears that crown of stars over his head. Knowledge and wisdom:
that is the Earth and the Sky. Grandmother and Grandfather: they
are one and the same thing. In Christianity there is a heavenly
Father. But where is Mother? It is a motherless religion. The
Catholics made Mary into Mother of God. So now who is God’s
father? Jesus becomes son and father? Catholics carry the most
guilt of all.
So when we are born into this creation, we have four parts of our
human soul. In the English way, people ask what is a soul, what is
a spirit? No one knows. They try to count the angels on the head of
a pin. In the Lakota way, there are four parts of the human soul,
and there are no words in the English language to describe those
four parts. And I wonder what information has been lost in the
European way of being, because those people were Earth People,
too. Long time ago, they had their songs and their ceremonies, and
they gave up their songs and their ceremonies for someone else’s.
Someone came in and conquered them and convinced them that
their way was better, their songs were better, their spiritual ways
better, and then they passed that guilt of eating from that tree to
new people. They were convinced that they disobeyed the creator
too.
None of my people ever carried that sin. It was never part of our
being. But it was given to us, and we don’t accept it. That’s not our
history. Our way is the way of the fire, rock, water and the green.
We have our seven ceremonies and four virtues. Buffalo Calf
Woman came many, many generations ago and she brought the
ceremonies and teachings that gave us the option of becoming
human beings. We have a culture that had developed without a
prison system because we had justice. We had no need for prisons.
There was never such a thing as an orphan, we never threw our old
people away in retirement centers because we valued them. We
had a culture that seemed to have no government, yet everything
was orderly. Most native cultures were matriarchal: the
grandmother’s wisdom was respected by the people and had great
influence. Men would hunt and fish and protect their territories,
and they would come into camp, and in every home there was a
woman. And the woman would say such and such happened while
you were away and this and that needs to be done. The men would
meet and say such and such happened while we were away and this
and that needs to be done. So the men, they all felt good because
they decided something.
So, that’s the way of balance. It was never a battle of sexes
between the native people; that’s a contamination from across the
ocean. The women did not want to be men and the men did not
want to be women, but everybody had their own power and
understanding. They were born a certain way and they learned the
power of that way. We are all one, but once we are born, we are
separate in the duality of life, male and female. Men and women
each only see half the circle. Together, we have understanding.
The chununpa (pipe) is bowl and stem, male and female, and when
you put them together, it’s a creation, a creation of the world, a
creation of the universe.
NLJ: Thank you, Paul. You just talked about ways that native
people understand and what people who have become
disconnected from their lineage have lost. Many people are
searching for those ways and desiring that connection to the Divine
and to the world around us, that magical connection that makes the
world more alive. Can you tell us the first steps for reclaiming that
connection?
PGH: Well, I don’t think the way for most of us can be found in
religion because in religion, there is dogma. You have to find it in
spirit. A person can be spiritual and still religious, but it’s still in
your spirit that you have to find this. You have to take the time to
go inside. Start each day with a prayer, something so simple. Just
observe this creation and look forward to this day. Give a little
offering of tobacco or chocolate or a piece of your hair or
something for when you’re beginning the day. Wonder about the
adventure that’s going to be in front of you and the challenges, and
ask for gentle teachings. Be conscious. I think the best way is to try
to be conscious through your day in all the little adventures.
Everything manifests from spirit and goes outward, so whatever
your prayer is for the day, that’s how the day is going to unfold, as
an answer. Whatever you ask for, whatever you project into the
day, it’s going to start coming back. It’s like, you drop a pebble
into a pond and the ripples go out, and in a little while, they bounce
back. So you are waiting for these things to come back. Half of
prayer is listening, so when you make that prayer for your day,
what happens through the day is the listening part. And then at the
end of the day, when you are lying safely in your bed and you
review your day, you look at all of the successes and all of the little
failures, and hopefully there are a few more successes than there
are failures, but the failures are good because you will learn
something. Failure is a good teacher. So you give thanks for that
day.
When a human being is born, they are not complete until they take
that first breath. You know, we come from the elements of the
earth. It makes up our body. There is a spirit and there are angels
that come and help us, and everybody has these spirits, these
angels. They are with us, but very few people use them. Very few
people ask them for help. Everybody seems to have somebody
around them, maybe it’s a great grandmother or someone, that
follows them around and kind of watches out for them. Some
people are kind of dead to this, and they don’t realize something’s
there, but most everybody has had the feeling that somebody has
been present alongside them at certain key moments in their life.
So we thank these spirits, these helpers that are near us, sometimes
with little gifts, maybe sometimes give them a little food or
something like that and encourage them and just say, “Thank you
for watching over me.” So they help you to be conscious.
When we take that first breath with our life, we become something
that has never existed before in the world. That person that is there
looking back at you when you look at your driver’s license-that
person has never existed before, and it has come into being, it’s
living in this robe, this body made from the earth, for a short time.
You have to drop this robe back into the earth. There is another
spiritual place, a spiritual dimension, a spiritual world that
everyone goes to but you can’t take your body with you. You have
to leave that behind because you can’t enter with your body. We
live in a 3-D world, and the spirit place is a 4-D world. The 3-D
has to be left behind and that one part moves into the next and how
you cultivate that life, how conscious you are, determines how
conscious your spirit is in that next life. We know this by the
ceremonies. My grandfather was thrown in a crazy house for
praying and healing, and my father was thrown in jail a number of
times for praying in a land founded on freedom of religion. Back in
317 A.D., Constantine made Christianity a legal religion,
supposedly free from persecution at that time. In 1978, Jimmy
Carter passed the Freedom of Religion Act so native people can no
longer be persecuted for praying. We can legally honor our young
girls for becoming women. We can have give-away ceremonies
again. We openly conduct our Sundance Ceremony.
So when people want to live their day with a consciousness and
listening, that spirit will guide them. And maybe the European
people will find their old songs again, because everybody’s family
had their songs. Everybody’s village had those sacred songs that
connected them to the Spirit. And those things haven’t disappeared
from the earth; they are just kind of lost for now, and people have
to find them again. All things have their song, and it just has to be
dreamed again.
So, that was the short answer.
=====================
Look for future issues of New Life Journal, where we’ll share
tradition of the Inipi, the Lakota sweat lodge, which Paul shared
with our editor Erin Everett.
“Reprinted from New Life Journal.. www.newlifejournal.com”
