Corn
Corn--as food, medicine, and an ingredient in ritual--is onmipresent in American Indian life. Many ceremonies incorporate perfect ears of corn because the cycle of corn, the life sustainer, sybolically reflects the cycle of the seasons and the fertility of the earth. American Indians from corn-growing tribes throughout the country, but especially those from the pueblos of Arizona and New Mexico, use the corn plant to make traditional art, musical instruments, and masks for healing rituals.
Sacred cornmeal in various colors is also part of many rites. The Hopi traditionally valuse the blue and the Zuni the black cornmeal. While both of these tribes raised corn in all the known colors they carefully chose particular shades to use in specific ceremonies.
Besides its ritual and dietary uses, American Indians have always esteemed corn for its use in many spirityal and practical treatments. During childbirth, highly knowledgeable midwives used the ripe spores of corn smut fungus, Ustilago maydis, to activate uterine contractions and ease discomfort. Many tribes use corn smut fungus for ceremonial purification. Others apply it as a topical skin treatment and use it to clear and cure the rashes of infancy, birty marks, and other skin abnormalities. They also dust cornmeal, cornstarch, and corn pollen on the body, using these ingredients as talcum and for sacred ceremonies.
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