Rituals:
Traditional spiritual practices of Aboriginal peoples have a strong relationship to the physical environment and an underlying belief that all life is interconnected. Some rituals are done daily, other marks special events in a person's life or seasonal or community events. Traditional aboriginal spirituality believes that everything is filled with spirit power.
Smudging- this is a holy act that is apart of many rituals, sacred herbs are burned in a shell or earthen bowl, and the smoke is brushed over participants, it is used to purify people and places such as before a wedding.
Sacred pipe ceremony- This is one of the most powerful and spiritual rituals. The pipe symbolizes unity and harmony of the world, the bowl of the pipe represents truth, and the stem represents the way we are are to live in harmony and balance its all of the creation, smoking the pipe stresses the unity of everything.
The sweat lodge- The sweat lodge ceremonies purifies the body, mind, spirit and heart and restore right relationships with self, others and the creator. The framework of the sweat lodge is covered by animal skins and blankets and then hot stones are brought to the centre of a small pit. Water is poured in to create steam which purifies the mind and body, prayers and sometimes scared pipe are shared. The propose for this ceremony is to connect people with themselves, the world and each other.
Birth and naming rituals- most aboriginal people go to great lengths to give the right name to each child, the name of the child is given by the spirit. The name is foreseen by an elder. The name is given at a ceremony with family, relatives and friends.
Puberty- young people go on a vision test- an intense, solitary spiritual experience for those seeking a direction in life, they must take this test to be accepted as an adult in the community.
Hair- aboriginal people consider long, uncut hair as sacred, hair can be sometimes braided, cut hair can signify mourning.
Death- death rituals may vary within the aboriginals, some traditions a death feast is held for the spirit of the person who has just died. Ojibwa celebrates the death feast in every autum to remember all who died the previous year. Each family who has lost someone holds a feast for the entire village. Food is placed in a open area outside. A place is set for the deceased, whose spirit remains with the family. The wake is a ceremony for returning the body to Mother Earth, the round dance is ceremony to commun with spirts who have passed to the spirit world, the round dance lets the family and friends allow the spirit of the deceased to fly free and dance with the other spirits in the northern lights.
Sun dance- celebrated by people's of the Pirates in June or July, during the full moon, tradition says it began when a warriors vision quest showed him a new way to pray to the Great Spirit. It's purpose is renewal of dedication to the Great Spirit, before the celebration the dancers fast four days before and purify themselves, the final stage of the rite involves piercing the body and tearing away from the piercing to symbolise a renewal of the quest.
Harvest feast- the Aboriginals celebrate the harvest from the field and forest, it recognises the spirits that acted on their behalf to give them food, it was adopted by non-Aboriginals and is known to them as Thanksgiving.
The Powwow- it is a dance of renewal for restoration of right relationships and healing of all creation.
Purification ceremonies- aboriginal ceremonies or gatherings often begin with the burning of a sacred object (such as sweet grass, tobacco, cedar, sage) E.g The Piegan tribe burn sweet grass or a personal blessing and use sage to purify the mind and body.
Communal Celebrations
While some rituals and ceremonies are for a single person or small group, others include members of the community. For example, the potlatch, sun dance and powwow. These are all traditional community celebrations and would go on for days.
Worship
In worship we interact with God by singing, listening, speaking and waiting. We present our lives to God and watch how he shapes us.
Festival/ day of remembering
National Aboriginal Day is formally on the 21st of June and is a day for Canadians to celebrate the culture and contributions the First Nations people of Canada have made. In this worship we acknowledge God's call to justice and reconciliation with the first peoples of this land.
This festival (NAD) goes for 2 days (June 20-21) and on this day they have native singers, dancers and drummers that perform for the crowd. This festival offers demonstrations and other activities to display some of the things the first nation peoples done, like: Historic fire starting, cordage making, native cooking, lacrosse, basket making, tea tasting and more.
Traditional spiritual practices of Aboriginal peoples have a strong relationship to the physical environment and an underlying belief that all life is interconnected. Some rituals are done daily, other marks special events in a person's life or seasonal or community events. Traditional aboriginal spirituality believes that everything is filled with spirit power.
Smudging- this is a holy act that is apart of many rituals, sacred herbs are burned in a shell or earthen bowl, and the smoke is brushed over participants, it is used to purify people and places such as before a wedding.
Sacred pipe ceremony- This is one of the most powerful and spiritual rituals. The pipe symbolizes unity and harmony of the world, the bowl of the pipe represents truth, and the stem represents the way we are are to live in harmony and balance its all of the creation, smoking the pipe stresses the unity of everything.
The sweat lodge- The sweat lodge ceremonies purifies the body, mind, spirit and heart and restore right relationships with self, others and the creator. The framework of the sweat lodge is covered by animal skins and blankets and then hot stones are brought to the centre of a small pit. Water is poured in to create steam which purifies the mind and body, prayers and sometimes scared pipe are shared. The propose for this ceremony is to connect people with themselves, the world and each other.
Birth and naming rituals- most aboriginal people go to great lengths to give the right name to each child, the name of the child is given by the spirit. The name is foreseen by an elder. The name is given at a ceremony with family, relatives and friends.
Puberty- young people go on a vision test- an intense, solitary spiritual experience for those seeking a direction in life, they must take this test to be accepted as an adult in the community.
Hair- aboriginal people consider long, uncut hair as sacred, hair can be sometimes braided, cut hair can signify mourning.
Death- death rituals may vary within the aboriginals, some traditions a death feast is held for the spirit of the person who has just died. Ojibwa celebrates the death feast in every autum to remember all who died the previous year. Each family who has lost someone holds a feast for the entire village. Food is placed in a open area outside. A place is set for the deceased, whose spirit remains with the family. The wake is a ceremony for returning the body to Mother Earth, the round dance is ceremony to commun with spirts who have passed to the spirit world, the round dance lets the family and friends allow the spirit of the deceased to fly free and dance with the other spirits in the northern lights.
Sun dance- celebrated by people's of the Pirates in June or July, during the full moon, tradition says it began when a warriors vision quest showed him a new way to pray to the Great Spirit. It's purpose is renewal of dedication to the Great Spirit, before the celebration the dancers fast four days before and purify themselves, the final stage of the rite involves piercing the body and tearing away from the piercing to symbolise a renewal of the quest.
Harvest feast- the Aboriginals celebrate the harvest from the field and forest, it recognises the spirits that acted on their behalf to give them food, it was adopted by non-Aboriginals and is known to them as Thanksgiving.
The Powwow- it is a dance of renewal for restoration of right relationships and healing of all creation.
Purification ceremonies- aboriginal ceremonies or gatherings often begin with the burning of a sacred object (such as sweet grass, tobacco, cedar, sage) E.g The Piegan tribe burn sweet grass or a personal blessing and use sage to purify the mind and body.
Communal Celebrations
While some rituals and ceremonies are for a single person or small group, others include members of the community. For example, the potlatch, sun dance and powwow. These are all traditional community celebrations and would go on for days.
Worship
In worship we interact with God by singing, listening, speaking and waiting. We present our lives to God and watch how he shapes us.
Festival/ day of remembering
National Aboriginal Day is formally on the 21st of June and is a day for Canadians to celebrate the culture and contributions the First Nations people of Canada have made. In this worship we acknowledge God's call to justice and reconciliation with the first peoples of this land.
This festival (NAD) goes for 2 days (June 20-21) and on this day they have native singers, dancers and drummers that perform for the crowd. This festival offers demonstrations and other activities to display some of the things the first nation peoples done, like: Historic fire starting, cordage making, native cooking, lacrosse, basket making, tea tasting and more.