Protocol
By Crystal Jack
Many people have come to ask questions about how to attend a Native American Ceremony and what might be expected. I write this to answer some of these questions.
There are four elements to a ceremony. The first element is intent. What is the purpose of the ceremony? Ask yourself what is your reason for attending the ceremony. Set out with an idea of what the ceremony is for and what you can do to further it. The second element is your offerings. You will want to bring with you gifts for elders and medicine persons, as well as appropriate offerings. If you have any questions as to what these would be, ask the family asking for the ceremony. The third element of the ceremony is the healing or the blessings that is to be given. The fourth element of a ceremony is giving thanksgiving to the spirits and to others who have participated in the healings and blessings.
TRAVELING TO CEREMONY: Before leaving on your sacred journey to a ceremony, we recommend that when you leave your home to travel to the ceremony to to smudge yourself down with sage or cedar. Also, ask permission of your spirit guides and ancestors to leave your home and ask them for protection for the journey. If you bring medicine with you (such as drums, feathers or pipes) ask permission to take these items from their sacred places on the journey.
MEDICINE: It is sometimes not known that these items are powerful! If you approach someone who is wearing items that are obviously not for the purpose of adornment, do not touch these items without permission! You will recognize these items as they come from mother earth, such as shells, beads or plants materials. Drums, feathers and such items hold an energy that can absorb your spirit. When not handled appropriately, they can cause harm to the person who carries them, or the person that touches them.
OFFERINGS: When you come to ceremony there will be elders and medicine people present. It is generally respectful that you offer tobacco when you ask these sacredly trained persons questions of teachings, or for songs, for prayers or for healings. The purpose for this is to give your permission for them to do their work. These medicine people have devoted their lives and made great sacrifices to learn to do these ceremonies, blessings and healings. They do not hold conventional jobs so they can help us in this way. The tobacco also activates the healing mechanism in the medicine people. In the past, the tribes supported these people with gifts of food and horses. Now, in these times, it is now accepted to give cash. It is an exchange for the medicine. Medicine, by itself, may not work if an offering is not made in exchange. If you cannot afford much, no person will ever be turned away, but an offering is needed to activate the healing and show gratitude and respect. Blankets are the most sacred gift you can present to an elder or medicine person. Medicine people will never ask for compensation.
SKIRTS: It is seen that a sign of respect to the elders and to the spirits for women to wear long skirts. In our ceremonies, we don’t ask for this. However, it can save public embarrassment, distraction and ridicule if this tradition is honored. The skirt also represents the Sacred Hoop. Skirts are seen to connect women closely to the Mother Earth as pants interfere with the energy.
HELPING OTHERS: Your help is highly valued. Ceremonies require a lot of work. Your assistance will be greatly appreciated. However, it may cause a conflict of good energy for both the recipient and the giver if help is given without permission. Ask if your prayers are wanted, and if so, specifically for what purpose.
CEREMONIES: Generally, the family or host of the ceremony covers food and other necessities needed for ceremony. However, this can be very expensive. Donations are desperately needed to cover these costs. Be as generous as you can to help defray these costs. True medicine people will never ask for money for services of healing or ceremony.
PHOTOGRAPHYand VIDEO: Ask first. That is all.
These are just some of the things I have learned over the years. I hope to present this subject in more depth as time goes on. If anyone would like to make suggestions as to anything that might be included, I welcome the help at this time. :)
Blessings,
Aho.