Aboriginal Spirituality: Rituals

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Life-Cycle & Seasonal Rituals

Giveaways and the Potlatch

e) RELATION TO INTERCONNECTEDNESS BELIEF: Aboriginals believe that it is important to share their wealth in the community so that no one is poor or lacking, because everyone is a creation of the Great Spirit. Their sense of community and connection in the community is very strong.

d) CONNECTION WITH PHYSICAL WORLD: The potlatch ceremony takes place outside, where songs and dance are used to honour the Great Spirit.

c) SACRED ARTICLES USED: Sacred dances are also used in this ritual to celebrate the sharing of generosity and wealth with the gifts of blankets, beadwork or crafts.

b) PURPOSE: This is a common ceremony which can celebrate births, weddings, any special events, or commemorate a death.

Sun Dance

e) RELATION TO INTERCONNECTEDNESS BELIEF: Aboriginals perform this ritual because they believe that the body is the only thing they can control, so it is an ultimate sacrifice to the Great Spirit.

d) CONNECTION WITH PHYSICAL WORLD: This ritual talkes place outisde, and is celebrated usually at the time of the full Moon in June or July.

c) SACRED ARTICLES USED: This ritualtakes place in a circle, which is considered sacred in Aboriginal Spirituality. In the last stage of this ceremony, piercings are torn off the body in a dance as a way to symbolize renewal.

b) PURPOSE: The sun dance is a different way to pray to the Great Spirit. It is a rededication of yourself to the Spirit.

The Powwow

e) RELATION TO INTERCONNECTEDNESS BELIEF: The drumbeat also is symbolic for the rhythm of the mother's heartbeat that we all hear before we are born. When First Nations dance or join in the powwow, they are reminded of their beginnings - in their mother's womb. Their present is connected to their past.

d) CONNECTION WITH PHYSICAL WORLD: Dancers and singers move through the dance in the direction of the Sun. (They enter from the east, and move in a clockwise direction) The drumbeat in the dance symbolizes the heartbeat of Mother Earth.

c) SACRED ARTICLES USED: The dance starts off in a circle. There are no sacred articles, but the circular space is considered sacred and holy.

b) PURPOSE: The powwow is a dance that can bring renewal and restoration to relationships. It celebrates identity, heritage and also language.

Harvest Feast

e) RELATION TO INTERCONNECTEDNESS BELIEF: Because everything is interconnected, after the First Nations harvest their food, they thank the earth by holding a celebration for it with chanting, praying, dancing and eating.

d) CONNECTION WITH PHYSICAL WORLD: First Nations believe that the spirits provided them with food from nature, and so they thank nature, the physical world, and the spirits which gave them their necessities.

c) SACRED ARTICLES USED: The harvest is considered sacred because it was given to the people by the spirits.

b) PURPOSE: This ritual is a way of thanking and recognizing the spirits that provided them with food and renewal of the earth

Death

e) RELATION TO INTERCONNECTEDNESS BELIEF: First Nations believe that after a person dies, their soul returns back to Mother Earth and can take the form of an object or animal in nature.

d) CONNECTION WITH PHYSICAL WORLD: First Nations believe that although the body may face physical changes (decay), the spirit will be unchanged.

c) SACRED ARTICLES USED: The 4 sacred medicines (sage, tobacco, sweetgrass, and cedar) are burned in this ritual.

b) PURPOSE: This ritual is meant to remember the ones who have passed away, and to celebrate the memory of their lives on earth.

Hair

e) RELATION TO INTERCONNECTEDNESS BELIEF: When an individual's hair is cut off, it can often signify that they are in a time of mourning. This ties into the belief that everything is interconnected, because if for example you lose a loved one, cutting of your hair is like symbolizing the loss of that person in your life.

d) CONNECTION WITH PHYSICAL WORLD: There is no connection to the physical world in this ritual.

c) SACRED ARTICLES USED: The hair is considered to be sacred. When the hair is braided, the 3 strands of the braid symbolize the body, mind, and spirit.

b) PURPOSE: Some Aboriginal groups believe that long, uncut hair is sacred. When they abstain from cutting their hair, it signifies spiritual importance.

Puberty (Vision Quest)

e) RELATION TO INTERCONNECTEDNESS BELIEF: Because they believe that the Great Spirit exists in everything - especially nature - they look to nature for guidance in life decisions and direction.

d) CONNECTION WITH PHYSICAL WORLD: This ritual takes place in an isolated location in nature. The quest usually ends once a guardian animal appears, or they see a rock/natural object that resembles it.

c) SACRED ARTICLES USED: There are no articles used. During this time, youth are supposed to get rid of all the distractions in life and solely meditate, therefore they bring very little provisions and fast for a certain period of time.

b) PURPOSE: Traditionally, youth would perform this ritual to be accepted as adults in their community. Now it is for youth who seek direction in their life.

Birth & Naming Rituals

e) RELATION TO INTERCONNECTEDNESS BELIEF: The name given to the child expresses the identity of the child, and also relates to the spirit power.

d) CONNECTION WITH PHYSICAL WORLD: This ceremony takes place outside, and the name given is often nature-based (ex. rave Raven, Laughing Cloud)

c) SACRED ARTICLES USED: 4 chosen "guardians" of the child will smoke a Tobacco pipe in a circle. An elder will perform a smudging as a blessing using the 4 medicines (sage, tobacco, sweetgrass, and cedar) and waft the smoke around with a ceremonial feather.

b) PURPOSE: To choose a name for a newborn child.