7 Grandfather Teachings, Powwow, Sacred Fire

english study things

Nbwaakaawin (definition and animal)

WISDOM - to cherish knowledge is to know wisdom

Beaver

Zaagidwin (definition and animal)

LOVE - to know love is to know peace, you must love yourself in order to love another

Eagle

Mnaandendmowin (definition and animal)

RESPECT - to honour all creation is to have respect

Bull

Aakidhewin (definition and animal)

BRAVERY - bravery is to face the foe with integrity

Bear

Gwekwaadziwin (definition and animal)

HONESTY - honesty in facing a situation is to be brave

Raven

Dbaadendziwin (definition and animal)

HUMILITY - humility is to know yourself as a sacred part of creation

Wolf

Debwewin (definition and animal)

TRUTH - truth is to know all of these things

Turtle

what is a sacred fire?

a fire used for sacred or ceremonial purposes in indigenous cultures, to connect the spirit world to the living world

who makes the sacred fires?

firekeepers

firekeepers

people who are given the role to tend to sacred fires, traditionally men

what do firekeepers do?

light the fires, monitor them, ensure they don’t go out, and putting out the fires

what is the purpose of sacred fires?

traditionally used to start a ceremony or sacred event, “spiritual doorway” allows communication to ancestors

what can be placed in the fire?

only sacred items like tobacco, sage, cedar and sweetgrass, and food for ancestors

rules of sacred fires

always watched and attended to by firekeepers, good mindsets around the fires only to keeo clear communication

powwow

social gatherings where everyone is invited to sing, dance, and celebrate indigenous culture

two types of powwows?

traditional and competitive

traditional powwows

smaller, have teachings, ceremonies, and a feast

competitive powwows

people from all over the country come to participate, prizes are given to top dancers, drummers, and drum groups

powwow trail

trail across a certain area where powwows often happen in the summer

fancy shawl dancers

mimic butterflies emerging from a cocoon

grass dancers

a dance that represents the people that went first

jingle dancers

the healers and pray for those in need

men’s traditional dancers

tell stories of battles or haunts

women’s traditional dancers

move their feet slowly to massage the earth

regalia

clothing at powwows, worked on all year round commonly adorned with beadwork and eagle feathers on leather or fabric, impolite to touch without permission