Spirituality People of the Sun

The Mi’kmaw believed in a creator known as Niskam (God). The only way they could see him was in nature… in the sun and moon, thunder and lightning and in the wind.

For the Mi’kmaw, all of nature had a spirit…the trees, rocks, plants people and animals…

Wa’so’q Souls could hunt, feast, dance and sing. No starvation. No place of eternal punishment. Spirits could come and go.

The 7 Directions Up to Wa’so’q Inward to the Self Down to Earth The Four Directions

Eagle Feathers An eagle feather is a sacred object in Mi’kmaq spirituality. It is said that an eagle is the only creature who has touched the face of niskam, the Mi’kmaq creator. An eagle is also known as the thunderbird because it flies among the thunder and lightning. When someone is presented an eagle feather, it is a sign of great honour and respect. The person who receives the feather is always someone who has loyally server his community. An eagle feather was often used to send messages to their god.

Prayer Pipe Mistakenly called a “peace pipe” because it was often smoked at treaties. The pipe was a sacred item consisting of 2 halves…male and female…was not complete until joined in a ceremony. Smoke offered to the creator, to the earth, sky and the four directions. Smoke was believed to promote clear thinking…thus ceremony performed at all important functions. Smoke was believed to be able to lift the thoughts and prayers of participants to the creator. The position of pipe-bearer was a sacred and honoured position…a position earned after fasts and ceremonies.

The Four Sacred Herbs Sweet Grass: believed to represent kindness and was burned to allow good spirits to enter. Tobacco: used to give thanks and was offered to elders in exchange for advice. Cedar: believed to be the tree of life and was thought to drive out evil spirits and negative forces. Sage: women’s medicine was believed to promote strength, wisdom, and clarity of purpose and symbolized the life-giving powers of women.

DRUM The beat of the drum represented the centre of all creation. Each part of the drum contained a spirit…all of which joined in praise of the creator when the drum was played. Each beat was considered a prayer to the creator.

Smudging A sacred ceremony that cleaned the spirits of the participants. Different herbs were burned to attract certain spirits and repel others. Smudging was conducted before most treaties, meetings, etc…

The pipe was first assembled (male and female halves) to be complete. Pipe Ceremony The pipe was first assembled (male and female halves) to be complete. Smoke was offered to the spirits of the four directions, to the sky and to the earth. It was believed that the prayers of the participants were lifted to the creator.

Once the lodge is built, a sacred fire is lit in order to heat up stones, known as the grandfathers. It is believed that prayer heats the stones, not just the fires. The first grandfather represents the creator…the stone is smudged. Once it is brought in, it is believed that a spiritual cord exists between the sacred fire and the stones. No one but the fire-keeper can cross over this line. Each grandfather is brought in by the fire-keeper and placed where the conductor tells him to put it. Each one is smudged. Men enter the lodge first and move in a clockwise manner to their positions in the North of the lodge. Women sit in the South. As a person enters, he says, “All my relations.” The water is brought in, the door closed. The rounds begin…one for each of the sacred directions…prayers said to each spirit of each direction. The participants leave “reborn.” Sweat Lodge

Fasting Men fasted because they had no natural methods of cleansing their bodies, as women did. When fasting, the Mi’kmaw concentrated on prayer and meditation to promote spiritual cleansing. Fasting was performed during vision quests…when seeking guidance from the spirits. Fasts were also held before other important ceremonies and feasts, like the bear feast. People of the Bear Clan, who have the bear as their spirit guide fast in honour of the bear and his winter fast.