Different teachings, practices, or ideas that can assist in the reconnection to Indigenous culture.
Ways to Reconnect to Culture
Photographer: Mackenzie St.AmantSMUDGING
Smudging is the Indigenous practice to cleanse your own energy. It assists in getting rid of negativity, harm, and serves as a cleanser. It can also be a form of staying grounded. It allows you to become mindful and centered to an event, task, or purpose at hand. To smudge typically you would have an abalone shell, a feather, one of the four medicines, and some sort of lighter (like matches, etc). The four medicines consist of tobacco, sweetgrass, sage, and cedar. The feather is typically passed on down to you by an elder. To smudge, you would center some medicine in your abalone shell, use your matches to light the sage, and use the feather to move the smoke. The way I smudge is by cupping my hands together and pulling the smoke towards my eyes, my ears, my mouth, over my head, and down my body. I cleanse my entire being when I smudge.
THE MEDICINE WHEEL
The four colours of the Medicine Wheel are white, yellow, red, and black. Each represents one of the original races present on Earth because of the Creator. No one colour was supposed to be stronger, they were all made to be equal. Each colour brings its own journey, medicine, part of the day, season, element, and part of ourselves.
Photographer: Mackenzie St.Amant
Photographer: Mackenzie St.AmantWhite:
The colour white on the Medicine Wheel represents elders and where they sit. Elders have the job to tell their stories and share their wisdom. It also represents one of the four medicines, sweetgrass. They say sweetgrass was the first plant to protect our Mother. The women would braid sweetgrass and the braid would represent strength. When young men braid their hair, it is their connection to their mothers, sisters, grandmothers and Mother Earth. White also represents the time of day, night. Winter is another representation the colour white encompasses. Wind also falls under white which is to the North. Finally white represents our mental part of ourselves. This northern part of the Medicine Wheel reminds us to keep our minds sharp.
Yellow:
The colour yellow on the Medicine Wheel represents infants and the beginning of our journey through life. Life begins and we take that first breath when we come through the Eastern door. Tobacco is also represented by yellow and is used in offerings. We would put tobacco onto the Earth asking the Creator to look after us in our journey. Yellow also represents dawn and the season of spring. Fire is also represented under yellow. According to teachings, men are responsible for looking after the fires and keeping them going. Finally, yellow represents our spiritual state. This Eastern door includes things that make us happy and includes faith, dreaming, ideas, visions, and belief in ourselves.
Photographer: Mackenzie St.Amant
Photographer: Mackenzie St.AmantRed:
The colour red represents youths entering the southern door. This is the part of life where we are our strongest and most fit. This is also called the wondering and wandering part of life. Cedar is also represented by red. Cedar tea is a common use of cedar to provide healing purposes through the high Vitamin C content. Red also represents day and summer. Earth falls under red as well in the southern direction. Finally, red represents our emotional state. If we don’t release our emotions in a good way, they will come out either in violence or depression.
Black:
The colour black represents adulthood. Our job is now to look after those little ones that come through the Eastern door. Sage also is represented under black and is used to prepare people for ceremonies and teachings. It helps to remove negative energy. Black also represents dusk and autumn. Water also falls under black and in teachings women were responsible for the water. It leaves our mother’s body, before we are born. Finally, black represents our physical state. This is where we are taught the importance of taking care of our physical body.
Photographer: Mackenzie St.Amant
Photographer & videographer: Mackenzie St.AmantMEDICINE BAGS:
The medicine bag was created for the purpose of carrying spiritually significant items to you. It could be filled with a multitude of important objects to you ranging anywhere from feathers to sacred medicines to rocks, etc. The bag or pouch is typically made of animal hide, beads, and leather, roughly making a pouch like shape. They are also quite easy to make. You would only need two pieces of the hide, leather strip, and some sort of bead. In the photo below, there is a visual on what your setup should look like before you make one.
DRUMMING:
Traditionally, the drum is seen to represent Mother Earth and her heartbeat is what is heard when the drum is played. It could also be seen as symbolic for our mothers because when we are in the womb, the heartbeat of the mother is the first sound we hear (Kataquapit, 2022). There are many types of ceremonies and prayers that's purpose is to ‘awaken’ the drum prior to it being played. In recent years, people are coming from all over to hold communal drumming sessions. These are great stress relievers and the energy that is felt when drumming activates natural biochemicals to provide many positive effects to the body and mind.
“There is nothing like the feeling you get when you are standing near a drum played by a group of traditional First Nation drummers. When an experienced group is playing, they can move and direct your feelings in so many ways. At first, it captivates you, then it may surprise you or bring a simple calm to your soul but all the while it leaves you mesmerized and relaxed as the rest of the world diminishes.” (Kataquapit, 2022, para. 8).
Photographer & Videographer: Mackenzie St.Amant
Photographer: Mackenzie St.AmantRIBBON SKIRTS:
Ribbon Skirts have a long history that comes down to us through many cross-cultural interactions. However, it has become an illuminating story of how our modern Indigenous, Metis and First Nations have developed the traditions. It is now an evolution of a piece of clothing over centuries, having a diverse ancestry in its roots and traditions. “For Indigenous peoples, the Ribbon Skirt represents our own personal reclamation. It represents reclaiming identity, and wearing that identity proudly. It has become armour. It is a cultural protection against assimilation and degradation.” (“The Ribbon Skirt Project,” n.d.). There are also many different meanings behind the colours, materials, and ribbons used pertaining to specific nations. I encourage you to reach out to a Knowledge Keeper or Elders of your community to learn more about your nation’s specific traditions and protocols following the ribbon skirts.
ELDERS:
Elders are significantly important to Indigenous communities, traditions, and learning. Elders assist in spreading their knowledge and wisdom to the younger generation in hopes that one day in the future, they will do the same. They are extremely respected individuals that serve as teachers, healers, advisors, and counselors. An elder is meant to be non-judgmental and an excellent listener. In many Indigenous communities, and within families, Elders are referred to as uncles, aunties, grandfathers, or grandmothers. Elders are also typically committed to living what they teach, helping others, and working to improve individual and community well-being. In my circumstances, my grandmother is my elder. She continues to learn and practice Indigenous traditions with the hope to pass her knowledge to her children and grandchildren. She also faced a significant disconnection from culture, however it is her life’s goal to become reconnected and be an asset for her family to become reconnected.
Above is my grandmother’s thoughts on her journey through reconnecting with Indigenous culture and what has assisted her in her journey.
Videographer: Mackenzie St.Amant