Prompt:
Treaty as spiritual covenant (Pipe Ceremonies):
- What teachings do pipe ceremonies offer you, related to treaties as covenants – kihci-asotamâtowin [Keeh-TSI-us-SOO-tu-MAA-toe-win] – Sacred Promises to One Another, the Treaty Sovereign’s Sacred Undertakings? (refer to the assigned reading in the Treaty Elders of SK book). How do you understand spirituality as part of your treaty-identities miskâsowin?note: spirituality doesn’t necessarily refer to religious practices, i.e. Christianity, but these could be included as well as considering yourself as a whole being – mental, spiritual, emotional, physical. Added note: this prompt specifically asks you to consider the assigned reading to help think through treaty as covenants – sacred promises – in relation to your own understandings of spirituality. You should refrain from sharing specific aspects of the pipe ceremonies as these sacred teachings are best experienced through ceremony and in relationship with pipe carriers, knowledge keepers, and old ones (elders). You might ask yourself: is this something I have permission to share?
Response:
When I first found out that during this course, we had to attend a pipe ceremony and a feast I was very nervous and almost, I guess, intimidated. I was scared to try something new, which I always am. I thought that I would not fit in, I thought that I would feel so out of place, and that it would be very uncomfortable. This is because these are sacred ceremonies and I have never taken part in one before.
While we read through the protocols for the ceremonies during class it frightened me more as there were so many. However, after taking part in the ceremonies it became much clear to me why such protocols are in place. The protocols just flowed with the pipe ceremony and feast; they made sense. The protocols are a big portion of what made the space so sacred.
I took in a lot of information from a tradition that I have barely heard of and never taken part in. Throughout the ceremony I gained more knowledge about Indigenous culture. I learned the sacredness behind food, the pipe and the reason behind a feast and pipe ceremony. “The pipe is holy and it’s a way of life for Indian people…. The treaty was made with a pipe and that is sacred, that is never to be broken … never to be put away” (as cited in Cardinal & Hildebrandt, 2000, p. 28). After listening to my instructor, having conversations with my classmates, and participating I understood the importance of pipe ceremonies and the meaning behind them. This experience helped me to connect with Indigenous culture and ways of knowing.
I appreciate that I was able to participate in the ceremonies rather than just learn about it from a textbook. This allowed me to feel connected and as though we were one in harmony. In the pipe ceremony I learned a lot on what spirituality and connectedness means to the Indigenous Peoples and how they relate to myself. With that being said, this brought me back to treaties and their real purpose; to bring each other together to live in harmony. When people of non-Indigenous decent, like me, make the choice to actively learn and involve ourselves in experiences such as this, we are taking a step towards truth and reconciliation. This is because we are making a promise to work together in making a better future for everyone. As a non-Indigenous person, I am grateful I had the opportunity to be part of such a sacred moment.
References
Cardinal, H. & Hildebrandt, W. (2000). Treaty Elders of Saskatchewan: Our Dream is that our Peoples will one day be clearly recognized as Nations. University of Calgary Press.
Miss. Sinclair 