Aboriginal Spirituality

Question 1

History of European Contact and Aboriginal Spiritual Traditions

Answer 1

• europeans considered Aboriginal ways ‘uncivilized’
• treaties were signed between the two, made ‘promises’
• reserves were created
• gradual civilization act passed to assimilate aboriginal peoples into European culture
• indian act passed, allowed children (6-18) to be forced to go to residential schools

Question 2

what is intra-religious dialogue

Answer 2

dialogue within a religion

Question 3

what is smudging

Answer 3

• herbs burned in shell or bowl, smoke brushed over whole being of participant
• used to purify people and places

Question 4

what is the sacred pipe ceremony? what does it represent

Answer 4

• smoking stresses unity of all creation, pipe is the whole universe
• bowl area represents truth, stem represents harmony and balance, hole represents woman, stem man, joining represents balance

Question 5

what are sweat lodges? what is their purpose

Answer 5

• aims to purify whole being, restore relationships
• leader pours water to create steam, sing, dance, pray, talk, meditate, reflect

Question 6

puberty and aboriginal traditions

Answer 6

young people go on vision quest to seek direction, prepare for a year, go only when they are ready, to get accepted as adult

Question 7

what does hair symbolize in aboriginal spirituality

Answer 7

braids or uncut usually symbolize a spiritual belief, cut hair can be a sign of morning, strands represent body, mind, and spirit

Question 8

what is the powwow

Answer 8

dance of renewal for the restoration of right relationships and healing of creation, enter circle from east, move clockwise to west (sun direction), celebrate people

Question 9

what is the sun dance

Answer 9

celebrated during time of full moon, renewal of dedication to the great spirit

Question 10

who is the great spirit

Answer 10

inhabits all things, addressed as creator, revealed through manifestations in nature

Question 11

who is the trickster

Answer 11

mean and generous rigure, played important role in creation, but not the creator, accidentally helpful

Question 12

what is a shaman

Answer 12

medicine person, uses powers to heal community, teaches spiritual lessons

Question 13

what is the medicine wheel

Answer 13

tool to teach younger generations, circle represents cycle of life, four directions represent everything in fours (seasons, races, elements, stages of life, aspects of human personality)

Question 14

ethics of aboriginal communities (3)

Answer 14

• do not interfere
• the community is important
• everything is shared

Question 15

what are the seven fires

Answer 15

tell how the seven prophets came to the Anishinaabe, gave predictions about the future