CULTURE AND TRADITION
There are many different ways for people to talk
with their Creator today. There are many different tools each
of us use to talk with our Creator. For Native Americans,
the Sweat Lodge and Pipe are two of the tools used in talking
and praying to the Creator.
The Sweat Lodge was given to Native Americans
thousands of years ago to use as a tool in prayer, purification
and healing the body, mind, spirit and heart. The Sweat
Lodge is similar in many ways to a church building, as it is
a place of worship and prayer.
The Sweat Lodge represents many things to us. It
is the womb of Mother Earth
who gave life to us all.
Everything used to build a
Sweat Lodge came from
Mother Earth and was living
at one time.
The frame of the
Sweat Lodge comes from red
willow branches. These
branches are tied together
forming a dome which
represents the ribs of Mother
Earth. The dome shape is
much like that of a pregnant
woman's belly.
In the center of the
Sweat Lodge a hole is dug,
after that we pray and thank
Mother earth for allowing us
to dig holes in her belly. The
hole will receive the hot Stone
people when they are brought
into the Sweat Lodge.
Blankets and quilts
cover the frame. These are
placed around the dome
leaving an open place for the
door. When the door is
closed, there will be no light
visible from the inside.
The Earth that came
from the center of the Sweat
Lodge is used to make an alter. The Earth is placed
approximately five feet in front of the Sweat Lodge door. A
tree, call the "Tree of Life", is placed in the middle of the alter
and small stones are placed around the base of the alter. The
antlers or forked sticks are placed on the alter in front of the
Tree of Life with a straight suck laid across them to rest the
Pipes on. The alter is used for sacred and special things that
one may want to have blessed. We never touch or handle
anything on the alter that does not belong to us.
The Pipe is also a tool used to pray and speak with
the Creator. The Pipe was given to Native Americans to form
a direct link between the people and the Creator. Tobacco is
smoked in the Pipe and carried prayers to the Creator.
The Pipe represents many things to us. The Pipe
bowl is usually made from Catlinite, which represents the
blood of the people that has been shed in many years of
suffering. The Pipe stem is wood and represents all living
things on Mother Earth. Each pipe stem will have different
things on them to represent special things to the one who
cares for the Pipe. Feathers for the winged ones, fur for the
four-legged, sage for the plants.
"A Way Of Life"
We also use many different herbs and tools in the
Sweat Lodge. Tobacco is the most sacred of these and was
given to us for praying with the Pipe. Sage, cedar, and sweet
grass are used as a smudge or incense. These are burned and
the smoke from them purifies our bodies, minds, and spirits,
helping us to become one-minded. The smoke will send
away negative thoughts andfeelings, and invite good feelings
and thoughts. Various other herbs are used for special
healing like juniper, Kaus Kaus, fir, and others.
The stones that we use are lava rocks that come from
the center of Mother Earth. They are our oldest living rela-
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tives, and are referred to as Stone People. They are oldest and
wisest of all things. They can absorb illness, negativity, and
impurities in the same way they can absorb heat from a fire.
All one needs to do is ask the stone people's help and they
will. The number of Stones tobe used in the Sweat Ceremony
depends on who pours the water and the type of ceremony
being done that day.
There are many different tasks that have to be done
to prepare for the Sweat Ceremony. Preparations begin early
in the day. For some people, the work begins early in the day
and ends late at night.
When the one who pours the water arrives at the
Sweat Lodge, for himher the ceremony begins. The one who
pours the water must go all around the area making sure all
is in the order it should be. Heshe may smudge the entire
area with sage or sweetgrass to ensure the positive energies
will be there. During the rest of the day, the one who pours
the water tries to remain one-minded, and in a spiritual frame
of mind.
Next, the one who pours the water and whoever
wishes to help, chops the wood for the fire and places it in the
Sweat Lodge, Part I
pit. The firepit is cleared of stones and anything left from the
previous ceremony. Then four logs are placed side by side.
Four more are placed on top going the opposite direction.
Four more are placed on top of those. The logs are placed this
way to honor the four directions which are very important to
our way of life.
Stone People are placed on top of the crossed logs.
Again, the number of Stones to be used depends upon the one
pouring the water. After the Stones are placed on the base
logs, the kindling and wood are set around the Stones until
they are completely covered. At this pint, the one who pours
the water or the Stone tender
will offer prayers with
tobacco to the spirits of all
the nations, Grandfather
in the ceremony to make
tobaccoties. Theseare prayer
ties made from little squares
of cloth, tobacco, and red
string. The tobacco is prayed
with and taken into the Sweat
Lodge and hung overhead.
The spirits will look through these prayers during the
ceremony. The one who pours the water will make, or ask
someone to make large tobacco ties called "waluttas" to hang
in the four directions on top of the Sweat Lodge.
When the Stones are ready, it is time to load the
Pipe. The one who pours the water kneels in front of the alter
and prepares it so the Pipe may be laid on it. Some smudge
will be burning and placed on the alter to purify everything
that goes into or touches the Pipe.
The Pipe bowl and stem are smudged and put
together, and offered to the four directions with prayer,
GrandfatherGod, and Mother Earth. At this time someone
is asked to sing a Pipeloading song, which everyone can join
in, whether they know it or not.
With a pinch or tobacco for each, the one who pours
the waterpraystothe SunandtheMoon, the Four Directions,
GrandfatherGod, and Mother Earth. The prayers are for the
universe, the four-legged, the winged, those who live beneath
the Earth, Water People, and the Plant People. All those who
are participating in the ceremony and their family circles are
prayed for.
God, Mother Earth, Fire
spirits and the Stones. These
spirits are asked to join us in
the Sweat Lodge for the
ceremony, and to bring us
guidance and protection.
While the stones are
warming up with love and
empathy, the Stone tender
will look after the fire and
the Stones, keeping wood on
the fire at all times to ensure
hot stones. The Stone tender
will carry the Stones into the
Sweat Lodge at the proper
time and tend to the one who
pours the water while the
ceremony is going on.
Atthis time, the one
who pours the water may ask
those who are participating