Traditions, Wise Words, Teachings and Interesting Facts

The Meaning of the Shawl

From Nancy Kohn Raven

I thought you would like to hear the meaning of the shawl, what it means in every way. So many of us are making them, this really made sense to me and I wanted to share it with you, ----------------------- I love you all Raven

The shawl is square representing the 4 cardinal directions thus creating sacred Space.

Each Fringe is 28 inches long representing the 28 ribs of the buffalo. The Buffalo symbolizes life to the people providing food, clothing shelter, tools.

When folded in half each fringe is then 14 inches long representing the 7 Generations that came before and the 7 Generations to come. We each inherit the broken-ness from our ancestors from the past 7 generations our job is to heal this broken-ness so that we don't pass it along to the next 7 generations. We also inherit the prayer and hopes of our ancestors from the past 7 generations, we hold the Sacred Responsibility to pass on these hopes and prayers to our children, grand-children and the following 5 generations

Each poke into the fabric to attach the fringe is a prayer, just like the prayer ties we make for gathering, each time the fringe is poked through the fabric of the shawl a prayer is put into it.

There are 2 fringes for each poke, representing the duality, the feminine and the masculine, good and bad, right and wrong.

The finished shawl represents the life of a woman.

May you wear it and remember how sacred you are. May the shawl provide you protection and fill you with the knowledge of your Sacred Feminine. May you be blessed and filled with the love I carry for you as you walk your beauty path, the path of our Grandmothers.

A question was asked about which material should be used.. Raven gave this answer on one of her posts...
Gaberdine is good if you are using a lot during the day, like at Sundance, as it doesn't wrinkle, but lots of the Elder women just carry one over arm so other material works just as well.

I usually always have a shawl going so when I set down I pick it up and start tying fringe, and I take it with me whenever I go to a Native womens gatherings, most always you will see Native women always with some busy work, beading, quilting ect. Usually if you offer small gift out of respect they will share with you maybe a special knot or tying method.One thing I learned was that for instance if you were to want to learn to quilt, like I do it is not ok to just decide for yourself to learn to do it on your own or to get a book and just start, But you have to earn the right to be taught in the old way,that may mean helping the elder with things she may no longer do for herself or many what ever she wants you to do , she may tell you no more than three or four times, She may always tell you no. She may say we will see, But learning to quilt in the old way is hers to teach, not for us young
ones to just decide to do on our own, this is what is meant by stealing the culture, whether it is beading, quilting or maybe basket weaving. It is a honor to learn these things in the old way and to earn the right to do so. I am still waiting to be taught to quilt, I have been told we will see, thats been a few years back now, but this year she called me daughter and allowed me to tye her Eagle feathers onto her arms.So there may still be some hope for me yet. - Raven

From Allen Sheppard
I love you all and all of you continue to give strength in a good way. Ignore the negative, Uphold the positive continue to refuse to even coment on negativity, we are for healing forgiveness and unity of the six colors, four directions and colors of man ,green the earth, and blue ,that which is above all. Every human of every society and faith holds a piece of the puzzle and one day we will all need to come together to see the true and good picture. -MITAKUYE OWASIN- kodapi .~mn renegade

Sweet Grass

From Richard Wagamese - Ojibway.

Three strands in a braid of sweet grass. They represent three spiritual qualities - love, kindness, humility, say. When I smudge myself with it, I purify myself in those qualities. I prepare myself for my day with the strength of those spiritual qualities. It clings to my hair, my clothes and in the air of my home. In that way, as I move through my day and I smell that fragrance I am reminded of how I have chosen to live that day - and in that, is the power of greeting my days with reverence, calm and prayer. In that is how I learn to direct my humanity toward peace, equality and harmony one day, one person, one circumstance at a time. Peace friends, travel well through this day..

Maa’aa or Shawl

by Long Standing Bear Chief - Blackfoot

The Blackfoot or Piikani word more correctly for what you ladies call the shawl is maa’aa (pronounced with long a sounds) I have asked around and no one says it has an English equivalent in meaning, that is it is just a word that refers to what is called a shawl or does it mean anything such as blanket.

The origin of the English word “shawl” is Sanskrit in origin and it is spelled “shal”. It turns out many cultures have been making what is called a shawl for many, many centuries. The shawl is made from all sorts of material, anywhere from wool to silk to cedar bark.

In ancient Piikani culture the maa’aa was made from the hide of many animals. The skin of the bison, elk, deer, moose and other such animals was used. Often for winter use the maa’aa was made with the hair still on it, and, was worn with the hair side in for added warmth.

In other instances the maa’aa was a brain tanned hide that was so soft it would feel like a blanked made of cotton to us living in these modern times. In those days the maa’aa was smoked so that it never shrank or turned into raw hide if it had not been. It is surprising but a smoked skin today can be washed in a machine and will still keep its form and softness.

When I was a young child the women still used to use the maa’aa as a small blanket which had many uses, one being to pack infants in a bundle on their back. Infants packed in this manner very early were socialized to all the people the mother met in the course of the day. The baby also had the added advantage of being warmed by its mother's body and heard all the language the mother used as it learned to talk.

Today, the maa’aa is used in the Shawl Dance which is not an original Blackfoot dance but was acquired from other nations’ women who performed such a dance. Today this Shawl Dance is treated as if it were a traditional dance by all indigenous women.

In times gone by the maa’aa was used by men and women because it was used as a blanket for warmth. Back then the maa’aa was painted with original designs of the Indigenous persons choosing.

The maa’aa today has ceremonial uses as it did in times passed. This is especially true in the instance of men who stood on the maa’aa during a piercing ceremony while involved in the Okan. The Lakota call this ceremony a Sun Dance.

Teachings from Our Ancestors

Believe in the beauty and strength of your own being.

Live a life of truth and honesty. This makes you a person of quality and dignity. Truth and honesty are the kind of leadership qualities that attracts others.

Give honor and respect to others regardless of age or situation in life. This quality makes you and others worthy of honor and respect, which makes others, feel worthwhile and fulfilled. Honor and respect empowers others so they can win the day. They will return it to you fourfold.

Honor the earth and all that exists. Be strong in this belief and practice it throughout your life because it makes for a world of kindness that binds all the good things of life together in a circle of harmony.

Be humble but not timid. To be humble is to connect yourself to the stars and the entire universe and makes you aware there is something unique about life that is to be enjoyed without fear. We are a people from the stars and because of it we sacred.

Help others realize that life is a dream . . . . a beautiful dream. Dreamers are the butterflies of life that help others realize their dreams.

Be humorous and help others enjoy life and the life of others. Humor makes the leader attractive. The humorous person has many guests and the one who is invited everywhere because of the joy they bring to the gathering.

Never be afraid to talk matters over with those who disagree with you or with those you love. The gift of language is a miracle and it is meant to be used to live a life of harmony, joy, love and respect. Use it well and use it often.

What is described here is leadership in the broadest sense. These are the qualities that make for a great father, great grandmother, lover, teacher, traditional leader, friend, and a great human being. Best of all you can add to this list.

In honor and respect: Long Standing Bear Chief

Givaways

Submitted by Nancy Kohn Raven
so that people unfamiliar with the ways will have a small understanding.

A long time ago Give Aways were held as a sacred event. Today, Tribal celebrations and public events often feature a Give Away.

The person who does the Give Away may do this with the help of his family and relatives. It is held sometimes in the name of a deceased relative or to honor a person who is going through a Sundance Ceremony as a participant, or for someone joining or leaving the Military. Sometimes a Give Away is held when a prayer or vow has been granted. For example somebody might have made a vow two years before and that vow has been fulfilled by that person and family. Therefore they honor that event and that person with a Give Away.

Sometimes an individual may spend two years or more collecting and making the gifts: Horses, blankets, money, shawls, automobiles and whatever else the person and his family deem appropriate to be given away. Giveaways can also include a gift of time, talents or skills.

The Give Away is often a public event. An announcer will say ''We have a gift here and we want to give it to a visitor from Alberta Canada" for example
Anyone from Alberta Canada may step forward to recieve the gift. It dooes not have to be given to a specific identifiable person.

It may be announced after everything planned has been given away."All you people who are here, the rest of these gifts are for visitors only who are not members of this tribe" if you are there and whether or not you know that person who is giving away, you can take the gift.

There are no reciepts given and no attempt is made to put a monetary value on a item given away. I would also like to say that Natives do not take this as a tax deduction on their Tax form either. It is a Sacred event.

We do this because we have respect for ourselves and out of recognition that a prayer has been granted, that a vow has been made and honored, or someone has recovered health. There are various sacred and spiritual reasons why Give Aways are conducted the way they are, and why we will continue as long as there are Natives.

If you see this sort of ceremonial thing happening, you will truly know you are among indian people who give a great deal of attention to their customs, traditions and beliefs. You will find the poorest of individuals and families carrying on this traditions. Additionally Natives give things not only to other Natives and to members of their tribe, but also to non-Natives. If they know someone is present from a different country, say from Germany, Japan or wherever, then during the course of the Give Away it might happen that they will announce for one of those visitors to step forward, that there is a gift for them.

There were times in the past when the Federal Goverment tried to stop the Give Away. They saw this happening where the Indian was giving away everything. It was a abhorrent practice to the non-Native whose cultures teach saving, and hoarding of material possessions.

To our way of thinking as Indian people, Give Away signifies our respect for other people.. What good we do for other people will come back to us in many ways.We have stories that verify this. Giving is a mark of a person truly involved in his culture. They are the generous ones. When people die their relatives will sometimes give away their belongings. Giving away a Ceremonial Pipe is an important way of passing on our culture to the generations who come after us. The Ceremonies of the Pipe carries with it our basic teachings and is the best way to come to know and understand our peoples cultures.

Passing on valuable things in culture is something of an honor. It is a way of saying; 'My Relative believed in this Ceremony. In giving you this Pipe we hope thatthese Traditions or this Ceremony that my relative participated in, will be continued through you.' It is a way to keep traditions and beliefs alive.

One value trait that the indian people appreciate in themselves and in others is generosity. The greedy man causes trouble. Long ago in the beginning all things in Creation were able to talk with one another. We can no longer communicate with the plants and animals because man became greedy and as a punishment we cannot communicate or understand one another. Once we learn to love one another and respect one another and all that exists, we will regain the power to understand one another. Then there will be true harmony. We Indians are working to overcome the bad side of our nature. We ask that people recognize this
Generosity is a cultural trait of high value. In fact anyone who is looking to become a leader, the people will always ask, 'Is this a generous man or woman?' If they are they will be recognized for the leadership role they seek or the one to be given to them

signed by Long Standing Bear Chief. (Blackfoot elder)