Indigenous Sacred Objects
What are the 4 sacred medicines?
- Sweetgrass
- Cedar
- Tobacco
- Sage
Drums
They represent the heartbeat of the nation and of Mother Earth. It is also the pulse of the universe. It provides life through beat. They are circular which is a sacred shape.
Uses
- Various Ceremonies
Eagle Feathers
Represents power and protection. It symbolizes the power of words and communication
Uses
- Used in talking circles
- Whoever holds the feather can speak and the rest must listen
Sweetgrass
The sacred hair of Mother Earth. Its aroma reminds people of the gentleness, love, and kindness she has for the people.
Uses
- Smudging and purifying
- Healing Circle as a calming effect
- Its usually braided, dried and burned
Cedar
Calls the attention of the spirits to the offering that is made. It is also a form of protection
Uses
- Purify the home
- Restorative medicinal uses
- cedar baths are healing
- Fasting and Sweat Lodge ceremonies
- Tea
- Smudging
Sage
Used to release what is troubling the mind and removing negative energy
Uses
- Prepare people for ceremonies and teachings
- Medicinal properties
- Smudging
Tobacco
It is the main activator of all spirits. It allows us to communicate with the spiritual world. We communicate our thoughts and feelings through tobacco as we pray for ourselves, our family, relatives, and others
Uses
- An offering for everything and in every ceremony
- Offered before picking medicines
- Offering of thanks after a fast
Totems
They recorded the stories of tribes that raised them. They were made of cedar. Each figure represented an element of a story.
