Indigenous Practices for Wellness

The cultural activities, beliefs, motivation and education of all indigenous people were spiritually guided among all members of society. Ancestral gifts of knowledge were provided by elders, often through ceremonial practices of oral traditions [1]. The indigenous people always had a connection to the land, water, the animals, and to each other within the universe and it is this connection that guides wellness among the people [1,2]. Maintaining wellness uses distinct rituals among each tribe or society. The Blackfoot people, and most indigenous societies smudge to cleanse the body and mind with specific intentions. During a smudge, sage and/or sweetgrass are burned in a bowl to purify and banish what negativity each person wishes to be free of. The smoke is used with thoughts of banishing negative emotions, such as anger or lust and brings positive energy to the people. This process is also considered to purify the people and let their prayers be heard from the creator [3].                                                                                                   

Sage is reported to have purifying antimicrobial benefits and thought to contain compounds to improve mood, cognition, and reduce stress and pain [2]. Sweetgrass is also appealing to the Blackfoot people as it is pleasing and attractive [3] and smudging in the home is considered essential for health and harmonization. Smudging is a ritual to be learned as a communication of prayer as a protective shield against negative forces. Prayers used in ceremonies can shift energies toward the positive; however, individuals smudge at home daily to maintain harmony within themselves and their community [4].

The transformational properties for healing and wellness come from the structured rituals and ceremonies of prayer. The Blackfoot prayer calls upon their ancestors for guidance through the prayers and ceremonies. This spiritual practice is how Blackfoot prayer shifts energies toward the positive and how the people take care of the spirit [4].

Sacred, or medicine bundles, were used to renew connections with the sprits and ask for help from the creator. Cultural beliefs that animals have a natural element and appear to individuals in a dream bringing a list of the objects, songs, and rituals that will be necessary to use the powers for various purposes [3,5]. The dreamer would gather the items necessary and place them into a rawhide pouch to harness powers through songs and rituals used in many ceremonies. The most powerful Blackfoot medicine bundle was the Beaver medicine bundle. This bundle was used by the Beaver men to charm the buffalo and to assist in the planting of tobacco used for ceremonial purposes [5]. The items contained in the bundles were handled with great respect. The Blackfoot people also took care to avoid the bundles and not disturb them when they were not in use and would set them outside on tripods daily, facing the sun [3].

Pipe ceremonies were also common in Blackfoot culture and smoking pipe was considered a sacred ritual for ceremony. “Pipe rituals were so common that every Blackfoot family had a pipe in their possession”. The pipes would often be round and always specially decorated [3].  The medicine pipe was usually very long and brightly decorated with feathers and furs of animals. It is believed that these pipes were given to the people by the Sun that held special favor for those who owned them. They were often kept in fine tanned fur with tobacco, a sacred whistle, two sacred rattles, dried sweetgrass and sweet pine needles [6].

 The pipe ceremony is known to have a strong spiritual meaning in ceremonies and were held by men of the Prairie Chicken society.  The man who pledged to dance would begin singing his songs to the owner of the rattle, while others would follow his lead. The dance would have strong spiritual significance [3]. The sponsor of the ceremony would have received a dream with the instruction or vows to hold a dance for a child with the purpose of promoting a longer life. Those attending and who did not dance were required to bring gifts. These gifts would be given to the elders who in turn gave prayer to the dancers in addition to sending offerings to the spirits [7].

The healthy and spiritual connections to the land, the water, the animals, and all within the universe are what heals and guides wellness for the indigenous people. Cultural rituals for each tribe vary but all hold special meaning that need to be practiced regularly. They connect people with the earth that promote physiological wellness, reduces chronic pain, and stress. Healthy rituals enhance mindfulness practices for oneself in their environment and strengthens support within a community when practiced among members of society [8].

References

1. Bastein, B. (2004). Blackfoot ways of knowing: The Worldview of the Siksikaitsitapi. Jurgen W. Kremer (Ed.) and Duane Mistaken Chief (language consultant). University of Calgary Press. Calgary, AB. www.uofcpress.com.

2. How Indigenous Wellness Rituals Challenge Western Views of Health - alive magazine

3. Rituals/Ceremonies - Blackfoot Celebrations (weebly.com)

4. Grier, A. (2003).  AISTIMATOOM: The Embodiment of Blackfoot Prayer as Wellness. Master of Education Thesis (pg. 50, 51). University of Lethrbridge.

5. Religion and Rituals | Blackfoot tribe (wordpress.com)

6. Blackfeet Medicine Pipes and Healing | Access Genealogy

7. Digital Collections - Blackfoot Prairie Chicken society (ucalgary.ca)

8. Radu, I. , House, L.M. &  Pashagumskum, E. (2014). Land, life and knowledge in Chisasibi: Intergenerational healing in the bush. Decolonization: Indigeneity, Education & Society, 3 (3): 86-105.

Photos:

http://nativenews.jour.umt.edu/2011/blackfoot

https://www.cowanauctions.com/lot/blackfoot-steatite-pipe-bowl-with-wood-stem-from-the-stanley-b-slocum-collection-minnesota-4026633

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