Mi’kmaq SpiritualityMi’kmaq Spirituality

Some Aspects of Mi’kmaq Some Aspects of Mi’kmaq SpiritualitySpirituality

• FeathersFeathers• Sacred pipeSacred pipe• Sweet grassSweet grass

• DrumsDrums• Sweat lodgeSweat lodge• SmudgingSmudging

FeathersFeathers• Feathers are very Feathers are very sacred to our people, sacred to our people,

in particular the in particular the Eagle's feather. The Eagle's feather. The

eagle is the only eagle is the only creature that is said creature that is said to have touched the to have touched the

face of God.face of God.

FeathersFeathers

• The presentation of an The presentation of an eagle feather is the highest eagle feather is the highest

honour that can be honour that can be bestowed upon anyone. It bestowed upon anyone. It

is only presented to is only presented to someone who has given of someone who has given of him or herself unselfishly in him or herself unselfishly in

order to benefit the order to benefit the community not just community not just

themselves. themselves. 

Sacred PipeSacred Pipe

• Our sacred pipe is Our sacred pipe is often referred to often referred to

as the "peace as the "peace pipe". It is sacred pipe". It is sacred and often used in and often used in the sweat lodge the sweat lodge

ceremonies. ceremonies.

Sacred PipeSacred Pipe

• The pipe is broken into two pieces, The pipe is broken into two pieces, symbolizing a man and a woman. When symbolizing a man and a woman. When

these pieces are joined, to symbolize these pieces are joined, to symbolize unity, it becomes a sacred part of the unity, it becomes a sacred part of the

ceremony.ceremony.

• Our ceremonies teach us to have dignity Our ceremonies teach us to have dignity and pride in ourselves as Mi'kmaq people. and pride in ourselves as Mi'kmaq people. We have pride in the fact that we practice We have pride in the fact that we practice

a different way of living. a different way of living.

Sweet Grass

Sweet GrassSweet Grass

• Sweet grass is a Sweet grass is a sacred herb which sacred herb which has the property to has the property to bring the positive bring the positive energies of love. A energies of love. A

sweet grass sweet grass ceremony is a ceremony is a cleansing and cleansing and

purification healing purification healing process in and of process in and of

itself.itself.

Sweet GrassSweet Grass

• Also referred to Also referred to as smudging the as smudging the ceremony serves ceremony serves as the opening as the opening

process for prayer process for prayer circles, gatherings circles, gatherings

and or higher and or higher ceremonies.   ceremonies.  

Sweet GrassSweet Grass• When the sweet grass is When the sweet grass is

burned, a sacred place is burned, a sacred place is created for the spirits to created for the spirits to

listen and provide listen and provide energies of love.energies of love.

• Once the sacred circle Once the sacred circle has been established, the has been established, the participating people are participating people are energetically cleaned as energetically cleaned as

well.  well.  

Sweet grassSweet grass

• Each person is to fan the sweet grass Each person is to fan the sweet grass smoke, first to their heart, second to their smoke, first to their heart, second to their mind , third around their body and lastly, mind , third around their body and lastly,

return the smoke to their heart. return the smoke to their heart.

• The prayer said during this process is, The prayer said during this process is, Creator, please cleanse me of my Creator, please cleanse me of my

negativity and fill me with the positive negativity and fill me with the positive energies of love, so that, as I am healed so energies of love, so that, as I am healed so

may I work for the healing of our Earth may I work for the healing of our Earth Mother. Mother. 

DrumsDrums

• The drum with its The drum with its drum beat represents drum beat represents the center of all life the center of all life

as if it were the heart as if it were the heart providing life with its providing life with its heart beat. Center to heart beat. Center to all things in creation all things in creation is the drum, in the is the drum, in the same way as the same way as the

heart provides life for heart provides life for the body.  the body. 

DrumsDrums

• Generally all Native people, for Generally all Native people, for centuries and centuries, have held centuries and centuries, have held on to the belief that the heart and on to the belief that the heart and the drum share the same purpose the drum share the same purpose and responsibility, that is providing and responsibility, that is providing

life through its beat.life through its beat.

DrumsDrums

• This conception of the drum and This conception of the drum and the heart as the center and  the the heart as the center and  the

source of life promotes a source of life promotes a "oneness" concept between man "oneness" concept between man

and nature.  and nature. 

Sweat LodgeSweat Lodge

• The sweat lodge is an ancient Native place The sweat lodge is an ancient Native place of spiritual communicating that is used by of spiritual communicating that is used by all Native peoples in both North and South all Native peoples in both North and South

America. America.

• The construction of a sweat lodge usually The construction of a sweat lodge usually is made of willow bushes that are placed in is made of willow bushes that are placed in a particular way and direction. so that the a particular way and direction. so that the door always faces the easterly direction. door always faces the easterly direction.

Sweat LodgeSweat Lodge

• The Sweat Lodge The Sweat Lodge Ceremony is a Ceremony is a

ceremony that is ceremony that is very humble and very humble and starts with Mother starts with Mother Earth. The sweat Earth. The sweat lodge teaches us lodge teaches us

how to have respect how to have respect for the women in for the women in

our community and our community and in the world.in the world.

Sweat LodgeSweat Lodge• It teaches us respect, patience, endurance and It teaches us respect, patience, endurance and

speaking our minds freely. speaking our minds freely.

• A sweat lodge usually accommodates from 4-12 A sweat lodge usually accommodates from 4-12 persons seated in a sitting position around the central persons seated in a sitting position around the central dugout where the preheated rocks (grandfathers) are dugout where the preheated rocks (grandfathers) are put to generate heat and steam inside the lodge for put to generate heat and steam inside the lodge for

the ceremony. the ceremony.

• In the traditional Native world the participants in the In the traditional Native world the participants in the sweat lodge ceremony are "cleansed" or "spiritually sweat lodge ceremony are "cleansed" or "spiritually

healed." healed."

Smudging

SmudgingSmudging

• To do a Smudging ceremony, burn To do a Smudging ceremony, burn the clipping of these herbs (dried), the clipping of these herbs (dried), rub your hands in the smoke and rub your hands in the smoke and

then gather the smoke and bring it then gather the smoke and bring it into your body or rub it onto into your body or rub it onto

yourself especially onto any area yourself especially onto any area you feel needs spiritual healing. you feel needs spiritual healing.

Smudging

• Smudging is a simple Smudging is a simple way of thanking the way of thanking the earth and purifying a earth and purifying a space.  Variations of space.  Variations of

smudging are found in smudging are found in cultures throughout the cultures throughout the

world.  Incenses of world.  Incenses of many varieties have many varieties have

been used for cleansing been used for cleansing and protection.and protection. 

SmudgingSmudging• Keep praying all the Keep praying all the while that the unseen while that the unseen powers of the plant powers of the plant

will cleanse your spirit. will cleanse your spirit. Sometimes one person Sometimes one person will smudge another, will smudge another, or a group of people, or a group of people, using hands or more using hands or more

often a feather to often a feather to lightly brush the lightly brush the

smoke over the other smoke over the other people.  people. 

SmudgingSmudging

• The Elders say that all ceremonies, The Elders say that all ceremonies, tribal or private must be entered tribal or private must be entered into with a good heart, so that we into with a good heart, so that we can pray,sing and walk in a sacred can pray,sing and walk in a sacred manner and be helped by the spirit manner and be helped by the spirit

to enter the sacred realm. to enter the sacred realm. 

Power AnimalsPower Animals

• In the Native tradition, man In the Native tradition, man communicated with the Creator communicated with the Creator

through interaction with nature; the through interaction with nature; the birds, the forest, the animals.... Many birds, the forest, the animals.... Many chose or were given symbolic "power chose or were given symbolic "power

animals" whose strength or animals" whose strength or character reflected the human character reflected the human

character traits of the individuals character traits of the individuals claiming the "power" of that specific claiming the "power" of that specific

animal.animal.

How does one get a Power How does one get a Power Animal?Animal?

• A person is put to sleep, sometimes with A person is put to sleep, sometimes with help from a lavender bag.help from a lavender bag.

• Once they are asleep, someone will put their Once they are asleep, someone will put their hand to the sleeping persons chest and play hand to the sleeping persons chest and play the drum lightly according to the beat of the the drum lightly according to the beat of the

heart.heart.

• In the dream, they will see different animals In the dream, they will see different animals and the one that appears the most and the one that appears the most

frequently becomes their power animal.frequently becomes their power animal.

Power Animals Power Animals

• The Power Animal helps The Power Animal helps the Native people make the Native people make sense of their problems, sense of their problems,

and helps them get and helps them get through challenging life through challenging life

experiences. experiences.

• The Power Animal tends The Power Animal tends to be one that a person to be one that a person

would be closer to. would be closer to. Example: dog/cat loversExample: dog/cat lovers

Popular Power AnimalsPopular Power Animals

• Some of the most popular Power Some of the most popular Power Animals tend to be those from the Animals tend to be those from the

K-9 (dog), feline cat), or equine K-9 (dog), feline cat), or equine (horse) families or birds.(horse) families or birds.

• There are many more Power There are many more Power Animals these just tend to be the Animals these just tend to be the

most popular ones.most popular ones.

SourcesSources

• Sources used in this power point Sources used in this power point can be found at:can be found at:

http://www.stemnet.nf.ca/~bjeddore/sacred.htm

indianheadfirstnations.150m.com/ ceremonies.htm

The The EndEnd