1. * Also called Wabeno- pays homage to the “tree of the universe” every spring * All participants fast and cleanse themselves before the event * Male elder plays the drum and leads a dance around the tree from Dawn until noon * Each dancer touches the tree to give thanks * A great feast and celebration is had after the Morning dance * Summer festival in the Great Plains nations- 8-16 days * This ceremony identifies the circle as a symbol of importance and gives respect to the sun as giver of life * Dance around a tree and face the sun; pray for people and to the Great Spirit

2. Morning Dance p. 39  - AKA “Wabeno” - spring time - Ojibwa of Southern Ontario - dance pays homage to “tree of the universe” - fast, cleanse before - male elder plays drum and leads dance in clearing around selected tree  - dancer touches trunk to give thanks - feast of meat and fish (lunch)

3. Sun Dance p. 39  -Great Plains nations - happens during 8-16 day summer festival - festival and dance so powerful/symbolic that Canadian govt. banned in late 1880s - circle as important symbol - sun as sustaining life (face son to pay homage) - prayers said and vows made to Great Spirit - celebration of renewal and reconnection with all of creation (practised today)  - dance for long periods around cottonwood pole (“tree of the universe) - some dancers embed sharp wooden hooks deep into their chests and connect to leather thongs that trail from top of cottonwood pole - as they dance they pull and the hooks tear their flesh (scars bear witness of faith)  - believe body is only thing they can control (offer as sacrifice to Creator) - by enduring pain others will not have to suffer famine/war/disease

4. * Northwest Pacific Coast Nations * illegal in Canada 1884 (govt said it contributed to idleness, ‘backward,’ ‘wasteful’) - ban lifted in 1951 * Feasts, sharing wealth and songs and dancing * Host clan gives a feast to celebrate an important event * The more wealth a host gives away, the higher their status and greatness * Song and dance to honor the Great Spirit

5. Potlatch Ceremony pp. 39-40  - Northwest Pacific Coast - illegal in Canada 1884 (govt said it contributed to idleness, ‘backward,’ ‘wasteful’) - ban lifted in 1951 - feasting, distributing wealth, sharing songs and dances - the host gives a feast to celebrate (impt event, marriage, atone for humiliation) - more wealth host gives away, more that person gains in status (hosting clan grows in prestige)

6. * Common among Great Plains Nations * Renews soul and helps regain focus * Cleansing of spiritual and physical body * Shaman directs and performs the practice * (medicine man and spiritual leader) * Dome made of saplings covered in animal skins, cedar or a covering to make it dark and airtight * Heated stones placed in the centre while water is sprinkled on them * Participants perspire profusely- while praying and sharing a sacred pipe

7. Sweat Lodge p. 40  - ceremony common among Great Plans - renews soul -cleanses physically and spiritually - under direction of shaman (medicine man and spiritual leader) - sauna (in sweat lodge) - dome made of saplings, covered by animal skins, cedar, dark, airtight - heated stones placed in the centre and water over stones - perspiration cleanses body and spirit - prayers and sacred pipe are shared

8. * Subarctic to Great Lake Nations; to help solve problems * Represents the connectedness of the supernatural world and the living * It is through the shaking tent that one communicates with the spirits * Construction: 4-8 poles in a circle shape with a large hoop around the top and sometimes around the bottom; wrapped in birch bark or hide * The top is left open to the skies to allow spirits to enter * The Shaman performs the ritual and intercedes with the spirits * Always takes place at night

10. Shaking Tent p. 40  - Subarctic and Great Lakes region - supernatural world and relationship to living (communication)  -4 to 8 poles, deep in soil, form a circle, wooden hoop at top and bottom, wrapped in birch bark or hide  - spirits can enter through top - Shaman enters tent and intercedes with spiritsl asking to solve problems, communicate with ancestor, locate missing people, predict - night ceremony

11. Tree of Peace p. 41  - central symbol connecting earth to heaven - impt in Sun Dance - White pine impt for Iroquois - Peacemaker said those that gather by great tree “shall offer thanks to earth…” - Cedar tree impt for West Coast groups (turned into totem poles)

12. Sour Springs Longhouse p. 47  - on Six Nations Reserve (Brantford), name because of sulphurous taste in water - ceremonial centre since 1855 - followers practice teachings of Handsome Lake - concept of “duality”; two main clans are Turtle and Wolf - Those within a clan are brothers and sisters - When entering the longhouse, members of Wolf clan enter west door; Turtle clan enter east - seating changes depending on ceremony and longhouse - sometimes one clan opens while other closes

13. Powwow - blue text p. 84  - dance of renewal, restoration, right relationships - community celebration of song and dance, identity, heritage, language - circle: enter from east (sun rises), and move in clockwise direction (as sun) - blessed by spiritual leader - drumbeat represents rhythm of creation/heart of mother earth/heart of womb

14. Smudging ceremony – blue text p. 79  - holy act that is part of many rituals - sacred herbs are burned in shell/bowl, and smoke is brushed or washed over eyes, mouths, ears, hand, heart, and whole being - cleansing smoke can be used to purify people and places - ashes are considered holy - as sign of respect, ashes are returned to earth in area where they will not be walked on

15. Medicine wheel – blue text pp. 88-89  - circle represents continuous cycle of life and connection among all species - cross points in the four directions - power of the four directions organize everything that exists (seasons, races, elements, stages, personality etc) - elders use medicine wheel as tool for teaching younger generations (re: who they are, come from, place in world, how they are related to each other and all that lives/breathes)

16. Sacred pipe ceremony – blue text p. 80  - one of most powerful and sacred rituals - pipe = unity and harmony - smoking the pipe is to give back to world - before lighting the pipe, carrier prays that whole universe be transferred to the pipe - then when lit, everything is in the fire or Great Spirit; dissolved in the unity of the Great Spirit - stone bowl of pipe represents truth - stem represents way we are to live in harmony and balance with creation - stem and bowl unity = male and female balance and unity - all elements are used

17. Harvest feast – blue text p. 84  - celebrate harvest from field and forest - spirits have helped by providing food - ask to renew earth through prayers, chants, dances - impt festival to farmers (adopted by non-Aboriginals who call this “thanksgiving”)