Sage
Sage is medicine grown in the plains areas. It is medicine for emotions and represents the teaching of caring and sharing. It’s a medicine women can use during their moon time.
Teepee Teachings
The Teepee Teachings are part of the Cree tradition. Each of the fifteen poles holds up the teepee and provides a teaching.
-
1.
Obedience
Obedience means accepting guidance and wisdom from outside of ourselves, using our ears before our mouth. We learn by listening to traditional stories, by listening to our parents or guardians, our fellow students, and our teachers. We learn by their behaviours and reminders, so that we know what is right and what is wrong.
-
2.
Respect
Respect means giving honour to our Elders and fellow students, to the strangers that come to visit our community, and to all of life. We must honour the basic rights of all others.
-
3.
Humility
We are not above or below others in the circle of life. We feel humbled when we understand our relationship with Creation. We are so small compared to the majestic expanse of Creation, just a “strand in the web of life.” Understanding this helps us to respect and value life.
-
4.
Happiness
After the tripod is up, the fourth pole completes your doorway. This fourth pole teaches us happiness. We must show some enthusiasm to encourage others. Our good actions will make our ancestors happy in the next world. This is how we share happiness.
-
5.
Love
If we are to live in harmony, we must accept one another as we are and accept others who are not in our circle. Love means to be good and kind to one another and to ourselves.
-
6.
Faith
We must learn to believe and trust others, to believe in a power greater than ourselves, whom we worship and who gives us strength to be a worthy member of the human race. To sustain our spirituality, we need to walk it every day.
-
7.
Kinship
Our family is important to us. This includes our parents, brothers, and sisters, who love us and give us roots that tie us to the lifeblood of the Earth. It also includes extended family: grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, and their in-laws and children. They are also our brothers and sisters and give us a sense of belonging to a community.
-
8.
Cleanliness
Clean thoughts come from a clean mind, and this comes from our spirituality. With a clean mind and sense of peace within, we learn not to inflict ills on others. Good health habits reflect a clean mind.
-
9.
Thankfulness
We learn to give thanks by always being thankful for the Creator’s bounty, which we are privileged to share with others, and for all the kind things others do for us.
-
10.
Sharing
We learn to be part of a family and community by helping with the provision of food and other basic needs. Through the sharing of responsibilities, we learn the value of working together and enjoying the fruits of our labour.
-
11.
Strength
We are not talking about physical strength, but spiritual strength. It is instilled in us through fasting. We must learn to be patient in times of trouble and not to complain, but to show understanding. We must give others strength to accept their own difficulties and tragedies.
-
12.
Good Child Rearing
Children are gifts from the Creator. We are responsible for their spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being. They are blessed with the gift of representing the circle of life.
-
13.
Hope
We must look forward to moving toward good things. We need to have a sense that the seeds we are planting will bear fruit for our children, families, and communities.
-
14.
Protection
It is the ultimate responsibility to achieve protection and the well-being of the body, mind, emotions, and spirit of the individual, the family, the community, and the nation.
-
15.
Control Flaps
The control flaps teach that we are all connected by relationships and that we depend on each other. Respecting and understanding this connection creates harmony and balance in the circle of life.
Sacred Medicinal Plants
Tobacco, sage, cedar, and sweetgrass are used in ceremony and daily life to cleanse, protect, and support well-being.
Tobacco
Tobacco is the first medicine to be given to the people to pray with and offer as giving thanks for life. It can be used in smudge as a gift to the creator and as a means of carrying the prayers. It is for the spirits and spiritual ceremonies and is also offered to elders when seeking support.
Cedar
Medicine from the cedar tree is used for purification in a smudge or cleansing in tea. It can be blended with other medicines for the same purpose. Cedar is medicine for the mind and represents the teaching of the Honesty Trees.
Sweetgrass
Sweetgrass is Mother Earth’s hair and is braided, representing body, mind, and spirit as well as the road of life that we as human beings walk. It represents the teaching of kindness and is medicine for the body.
Grandfather Teachings
The Grandfather Teachings are shared through animals. These teachings guide how we live with connection to all of creation.
The Eagle: Love
The eagle represents love. The feeling of deep affection, and devotion, and protecting what you cherish.
The Wolf: Humility
The wolf represents humility. Unprideful and humble with consideration for proper behavior or manner.
The Bear: Courage
The bear represents boldness and fearlessness. It is unafraid and shows courage for what is right.
The Buffalo: Respect
The buffalo represents worth, honour, esteem and consideration. It has a polite attitude and consideration for individuals, nature, belongings, and beliefs.