Mi’kmaq Studies

Ceremonies and Rituals

Ceremonies and RitualsWhat are ceremonies and rituals?What are some ceremonies and

rituals that we take part in today? What do they look, sound and feel like?

Write down your ideas.

Ceremonies and RitualsA ritual is order of a ceremonyA ceremony is a formal act or procedure

that is customary to a particular culture.

Mi’kmaq CeremoniesMi’kmaq connect with their culture and

spirituality by taking part in traditional ceremonies and rituals

The traditional Mi’kmaq cultural ceremonies are not as widely practiced today due to assimilation into European culture

To keep their culture alive, it is important that the Mi’kmaq continue to take part in the ceremonies and rituals of theirs ancestors

Pow WowPreserve heritageRenew old friendships and make new onesVisitingDancingSinging

FastingA person must fast for four days before

they enter some ceremonies (including food, drugs and alcohol)

Cleanse the body and spirit to better connect with the Creator

Vision QuestTakes place when a person comes to a

critical moment in their lifeA new direction or better purpose must be

chosenLook to the creator for guidanceSacred, personal adventure

Talking CircleWay to discuss and solve problemsOnly one person talks at a timeEveryone gets a chance to talkRespect what others say

Pipe CeremonyUsed to exchange information after a

period of fastingUsually held by a healer or medicine man

Sweat LodgeLodge constructed of willow or alder bushesEntrance always faces eastHot rocks placed in the centrePeople enter and exit many times

throughout the ceremonyCeremony is for spiritual cleansing and

healing

SmudgingSimilar to blessing oneself in Catholic faithDone to cleanse the spirit before taking

part in a traditional ceremonyThe smoke from sweet grass, cedar and

sage is used for smudging

Sweet GrassFound between bodies of salt and fresh

waterSignifies spiritual strength, as it is given by

Mother EarthBurn sweet grass to purify and cleanse

ourselvesDone so our ceremonies will be celebrated

in a respectful way

Ceremonial ItemsDrums:

The drum is a symbol of spiritual strength for the Mi'kmaq people. It represents the heartbeat of the people.

Cedar:Used for smudging in traditional ceremonies

Sage:Used for smudging

Tobacco:Used in burial ceremonies, pipe ceremonies and to send a message to people in your community to ask for help

Ceremonial ItemsRock:

Used in sweat lodge ceremony, the rock is being asked to give up it’s life

Eagle feather:Way of delivering a message to the CreatorHonor to receive and eagle featherEagle is the only creature to have touched the face of the creatorThrough the eagle, native people can identify and appreciate the Creator’s spirit among them

A Closer Look at a Pow WowA Pow Wow in Dartmouth:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v

=2R4Jie84Khs&feature=related