The Wakan Circle

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Native American healing ceremonies vary among tribes. For example, among Cherokee (Tsalagi), “medicine men�?or women may employ a quartz crystal to aid in healing, while some Western tribes use other stones. Some may prefer burning cedar for smudging (applying sacred smoke for purification) while others may employ White Sage or Mullein, pine, sweet grass or other plant or herb.

To dispel misunderstanding, and so health care providers can have an insight into a few practices that could be employed, a few elements are provided here.

The Elder will use sacred objects that are not to be touched by others as they have been purified in (often arduous) ceremony. They may include, but not be limited to: Sacred Pipe (Chanunpa), rattles, medicine bowls, drums, shells, feathers, feather fan, crystals, stones, healing clay, cloth, wooden sticks or arrows, wooden staff, tobacco pouches or small medicine bags of other herbs, materials such as corn pollen or corn meal, or fetishes (representations of healing powers).

These items are often in a medicine bundle, a cloth, skin or other wrapping that is itself sacred and not to be handled by anyone other than the medicine person. It should be noted that if a “medicine man�?or woman objects to being searched by hospital personnel it is not because any “illegal�?substance is being carried, but out of respect for the power and sacredness of the objects.

If a facility or institution requires inspection of all packages for security reasons, the “medicine man�?or woman should be informed beforehand. Some objects are considered of such sacredness and intimate connection to Creator and the healer’s personal vision (Walk in Life) that to be even viewed by an outsider will not only rob it of its curative powers but weaken the practitioner’s ability (personal medicine). Other objects may only be loaned to the medicine person by the tribe, family or medicine clan and can only be viewed by them.

To attempt to search a medicine person without warning may result in the practitioner simply walking away, possibly never to return.

To a traditional “medicine man�?or woman unused to modern ways, searching a medicine bundle may be considered a dishonoring not only of the medicine person but of their family, clan, tribe, nation, their religious beliefs and an affront to Creator.

If objects are allowed to be viewed, they should only be viewed, not touched.

For any healing ceremony to take place, there must be respect: by the healer, for the healer, for the person to be healed, for the ceremony and, ultimately, for Creator. This requires privacy without outside interference. The family may be asked to join, sometimes not.

Frequently, family members are asked to make prayer ties (colored cloth bundles of tobacco) to be placed around the patient. These are sacred and not to be disturbed, if at all possible.

The ceremony may include smoking the Sacred Pipe (Chanunpa). Among many American Indians, the Sacred Pipe is the holiest of holies; when held in the hands, the female power (bowl) and the male power (stem) become Creation itself. The smoke is prayer. Most tribes honor the Pipe. Where oxygen is used, a suitable place for burning herbs and using the Pipe will have to be provided.

Drums and rattles are often employed. The Drum is sacred; it is the heartbeat of the Earth Mother. Rattles “clear�?energy and can draw in good spirits, dispel bad ones. Even missing soul pieces (life essence) lost through trauma may be “rattled�?back in. Prayer songs may also be sung; these can be in any language. They have their own power.

Due to the nature of the sound, a special room may have to be provided if disturbing other patients is a concern. However, “medicine men�?or women can perform quiet ceremonies where required and as needs dictate. A respectful agreement should be made beforehand to avoid potential conflict or consider alternatives.

Other ceremonies outside of institutional settings but may be considered vital include:

Sun Dance. Not a dance “to�?the Sun, but a ritual of personal sacrifice; four days of preparation and four days of rituals.

Asi/Inipi or “Sweat Lodge.�?/FONT> The Asi or “hot house�?in Cherokee, or Inipi, Purification Lodge (Lakota) uses heated stones (Grandfathers) to bring Creator’s fire into a small framed structure that is the Womb of the Earthly Mother, where water is poured on them, releasing wisdom and healing power through steam.

Vison Quest. Under an Elder’s guidance, a person will venture alone to a lonely place for fasting, visions and guidance that can last for one to four days and take a year for preparation.

In all ceremonies, it is Creator that does the work. The Elder is only “a hollow bone,�?that the Creator uses as a sort of “conduit.�?/FONT>

WHAT IS NATIVE AMERICAN TRADITIONAL HEALING?

Most Native American tribes have traditions about health and illness. These traditions are not based on western science. Instead, they come from the tribe's beliefs about how individuals fit in the web of life. This web includes the tribe, all humanity, the earth, and the universe. Many healing traditions focus on harmony. Healing occurs when someone is restored to harmony and connected to universal powers.

Traditional healing is "holistic". It does not focus on symptoms or diseases. Instead, it deals with the total individual. Different people with HIV disease may get different treatments. Healing focuses on the person, not the illness.

Certain people in each tribe are recognized as healers. They receive special teachings. Healing traditions are passed from one generation to the next through visions, stories, and dreams.

Healing does not follow written guidelines. Healers work differently with each person they help. They use their herbs, ceremony and power in the best way for each individual.

Healing might involve sweat lodges, talking circles, ceremonial smoking of tobacco, shamans, herbalism, animal spirits, or "vision quests". Each tribe uses its own techniques. The techniques by themselves are not "traditional healing." They are only steps towards becoming whole, balanced and connected.

WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM TRADITIONAL HEALING?

Traditional healing can be very powerful for Native Americans dealing with HIV. It can restore a sense of connection to their tribe and culture. This promotes spiritual, psychological, emotional, and physical healing.

Some traditional healers only work with members of their own tribe. Others will work with outsiders. Some people who are not Native American believe that working with a traditional healer has helped them.

Most healers work in their local tribal communities. A few participate in public conferences. If you are not a tribal member, it is very difficult to know if someone is really a traditional healer.

Many people use the techniques of traditional healing. However, there is a big difference between traditional healing and using traditional techniques. Participating in a sweat lodge might help almost anyone. However, the experience could be very different depending on who runs the sweat lodge. Were they raised in a tradition that used sweat lodges? Or did they simply learn about the technique? Also, a sweat lodge will mean more to someone who grew up in a tribe that traditionally uses them. Some techniques might have no meaning unless you grew up using them.

Traditional ceremonies usually involve much more than outsiders are aware of. When you attend a ceremony, show respect by asking about guidelines for observing or participating.

HOW DOES TRADITIONAL HEALING INTERACT WITH WESTERN MEDICINE?

Healers have different views about combining their methods with western medicine. Some do not see any value in medical science or treatments. Others believe that the systems deal with different aspects of an individual so there is no problem using both.

Most western physicians do not understand the value or importance of traditional healing to their Native American patients. A few, especially in areas with large Native American populations, are more open to traditional healing.

If you combine western medicine and traditional healing, let your physician know about any treatments you are using. There might be interactions. For example, a traditional healer might use an herbal preparation to help you sleep. In that case, your physician would probably not want you to take sleeping pills. Your healer might want you to use herbs to cleanse your system. These might interact with western medications that you are taking. Your physician might help you avoid negative interactions.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Native American traditional healing is a holistic approach to health. Each tribe has its own healing traditions.

Traditional healers do not follow a standard procedure. Instead, they apply their skills to each person individually.

By themselves, techniques such as sweat lodges or vision quests are not "traditional healing." They have the most meaning as part of an overall healing tradition.

Traditional healers and western physicians are often skeptical of each other. However, it is best if your care providers all know about everything you are doing for your health. There may be interactions among different techniques that you want to avoid

Important Announcement The MSN Groups service will close in February 2009. You can move your group to Multiply, MSN’s partner for online groups. Learn More
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