Common Traditional Ceremonies

 

The following are some of the ceremonies common to the Plains First Nations listed with increasing complexity.

• Silence

• Acknowledging connection with a Higher Power, Spirit Helpers and the Universe

• Smudging

• Fasting

• Chanting

• Meditation

• Circles

  • Woman’s

  • Men’s

  • Talking/Sharing

  • Healing(pipe, smudge, prayer and songs)may include other rituals…eg: feather patting, different smudge…etc.

• Pipe ceremony(pipe, smudge, prayer and song)

• Home ceremony (pipe, smudge, prayer and songs)(soup, berries and bannock)

• Night Lodges (shaking tent, spirit helper)

• Vision Quests (Vision quests are personal and many procedures vary with each Elder)

• Inibi(sweatlodge)

  • General(families, staff, requests…etc.)

  • Women’s

  • Men’s

  • Spiritual helpers

  • Different spirit being: eg: horse, beaver, bear, eagle…etc

  • Different events: naming, dances, memorial, seasons…etc

• Medicinelodge(Sundance)

  • Protocol

  • Offerings for Giveaway

  • Attending sings

  • Fasting

  • Eagle whistle

  • Eagle feathers

  • Ribbon shirt, Skirts

  • Moccasins

  • Piercing skewers (piercing optional)