http://www.maplandia.com/canada/manitoba/division-no-7/carberry/
http://www.gomapper.com/travel/map-of/carberry.html
Spruce Woods Sundance Itinerary
Wednesday, June 08/11 to Sunday, June 12/11
Out of respect for the many new dancers and visitors we have to our Sundance, we have opted to distribute this document to better prepare everyone. Although some Traditional people and groups may not agree with what we do at our Lodge, our Elders and the Grandfathers support our embracing of technology to get the word out to the People. We respect the opinions and views of those who disagree and we only ask that they respect ours.
Very Important: There will no longer be a communal kitchen. Each camp/person is responsible for feeding themselves except for sponsored feasts. Each person is also expected to bring a feast kit with their own plate, bowls, cup and utensils. This is in accordance with our Sundance teacher’s desire to be kinder to the Earth.
Wednesday, June 8th – Camp Day
On this day, people begin arriving and setting up their camps. No open fires are permitted; you must obtain a portable fire pit from the park office. Your camp is responsible for returning it. Everyone is expected to help build the giant tipi late afternoon.
Thursday, June 9th – Last Sundance Meeting
People will continue to arrive and set up their camps. Those who have completed their camps are expected to help complete the giant tipi before sundown.
Everyone at camp is expected to come into the giant tipi at sundown for the last Sundance Meeting. For those dancers who have not made any of the 3 previous meetings, you MUST be present at this meeting. Every camp/family is expected to make a food contribution to the potluck feast.
Friday, June 10th – Tree and Lodge Day
Sunrise (approx 6 a.m.) – Sunrise and Nest Ceremony
• 7 Men who have lost a parent will gather the Thunderbird Nest. All dancers are expected to be present to greet the nest.
7:00 a.m. Tree Ceremony
• Everyone expected to participate
• Women will dig hole and make a bed for the tree (bed made up of blankets)
• Men will locate the tree and bring him to the lodge from the south
• Women will dress David in the Sundance Tree’s cloth so that he can greet the tree (assign 2 men to stand between him and the hole)
• The tree will be placed on the bed
• Excess limbs removed and stump painted.
• Men will carve the lightning and Thunderbird on each side of tree (bring sharp knives)
• Women will paint the lightning and Thunderbird blue
• Tree measured for height
• Men make Thunderbird nest and attach to tree
• Women will dress up the tree in the cloth
• Offerings (ribbon, tobacco, food, sweetgrass) placed in hole
• Men raise and straighten tree (long sturdy ropes needed)
• Main tobacco offering – everyone attends and makes their offering of pouch/tin of tobacco (someone collects wrappers, containers)
• Main tobacco offering wrapped in white cloth and a virgin male is assigned to be the climber. He will scale the tree and attach the main tobacco offering.
• The tree is feasted with fruit, rice and raisins and tea.
11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Building of the Lodge
• George Muswagon will lead the men in constructing lodge. Men will need axes, shovels, and fencepost diggers.
• A Woman will be announced as to who will lead the women in collecting the strapping needed to construct the lodge. Each woman will require a sharp knife.
• Patrick Scott will take some men and get firewood.
4:00 p.m. Sweating the Dancers
• Each dancer will attend and partake in at least two rounds of a sweat. The sweats will be conducted by whom the Sundance chief chooses.
6:00 p.m. Dancers last Meal/Lighting of Sacred Fire
• Feast will be catered. Potluck is still recommended for those who want “Special” Dishes such as wild meat.
7:00 p.m. – Sundance starts
• Dancers will place their bedding, etc at the edge of the boundary line
• Dancers must have red wrap (men), skirt or dress (women), sage crown in red cloth, eagle whistle, at least two flags (1-2 meters of colored cloth – no black – with tobacco tied to a stick).
• Dancers must be dressed/prepared for the weather (gets cold at night)
• Everyone to turn pipe over to pipe men (yet to be named). They will remain in the lodge for blessing all weekend.
• Dancers will be lined up by seniority (4th years first, 1st years last).
• Dancers will be placed in their stalls and will remain in the lodge for the remainder of the weekend.
• Women dancers on their time or who start their time will be placed in their own area near the boundary line where they are also to remain for the duration of the ceremony.
Midnight – Dancers go to Bed
• Everyone expected to return to and remain in their camps. Keep quiet so dancers can rest.
• Parents/chaperones must keep kids/teens at their own camps.
• Volunteers needed to tend to Sacred Fire all night and assist dancers as necessary.
Saturday, June 11th – Sundance
5:00 a.m. - Sunrise and Pipe Ceremony
• Dancers and workers are expected to be in lodge to help Grandpa Joe and David greet the sun.
5:30 a.m. - Pledges make their intentions known:
• Males report to Ken Courchene if you are hanging, dragging or piercing.
• Females report to Sherryl Blacksmith if you are piercing or flesh-offering.
• Important: If you are pledging - It is proper protocol to present tobacco and a gift to your cutter.
6:00 a.m. – Men Piercing Lead by Ken Courchene in following order
• Hangers – suspension from piercing (You MUST talk to and obtain blessing from David to hang).
• Draggers – dragging 4 buffalo skulls around the outside of the lodge.
9:00 a.m. – Break/Dancers rest
9:30 a.m. - Complete piercing of the Men
• Piercers – piercing on the traps or chest and attached to the tree.
10:30 a.m. – Women Piercing Lead by Brenda Watt in following order
• Piercers – piercing on the traps/shoulders and attached to the tree.
• Flesh Offering – an offering of flesh is cut from the arm and offered.
1:00 p.m. – Break/Dancers Rest
1:30 p.m. – Pipe Giveaway
• David and Sherryl will bestow pipes upon certain individuals.
3:00 p.m. – Preparation for Buffalo Dance
• Bring cloth offering to line the ground of the lodge (any color but black)
• Bring ribbon offering (any color but black) for blessing from the buffalo.
• Bring blue or white ribbon for blessing of lost souls.
3:30 p.m. – The Return of the Buffalo Dance
• The Buffalo Dance has returned to our people to assist in our time of need, in our case they have returned to help those lost to suicide (lost souls).
• A Woman will lead Buffalo Dancers into the lodge.
6:00 p.m. – Break/Dancers Rest
7:00 p.m. – Home Fire Ceremony
• All camps are asked to bring a log of wood from their home community.
• 7 Men will be asked to share a Fire Teaching and to dance with this wood.
• A fire will be built within the lodge from the wood from our combined home fires.
9:00 p.m. – Doctorings (Healers names to be announced)
• Those suffering from sickness can come forward and ask for healing from the lodge.
• Important: If you are asking for healing - It is proper protocol to present tobacco, cloth and a gift to your healer.
Midnight – Dancers go to bed
Sunday, June 12th - Sundance
4:30 a.m. – Preparation of the Lodge and Dancers
• Lodge branches bent in half
• Each dancer Must be painted with blue facepaint
5:00 a.m. - Sunrise and Pipe Ceremony
• Dancers and workers are expected to be in lodge to help Grandpa Joe and David greet the sun.
6:00 a.m. – Men Piercing Lead by Ken Courchene in following order
• Hangers – suspension from piercing (You MUST talk to and obtain blessing from David to hang).
• Draggers – dragging 4 buffalo skulls around the outside of the lodge.
9:00 a.m. – Break/Dancers rest
9:30 a.m. - Complete piercing of the Men
• Piercers – piercing on the traps or chest and attached to the tree.
10:30 a.m. – Women Piercing Lead by Brenda Watt in following order
• Piercers – piercing on the traps/shoulders and attached to the tree.
• Flesh Offering – an offering of flesh is cut from the arm and offered.
1 p.m. – Break/Dancers Rest
2:00 p.m. – Children’s Ceremony
• All children are to attend to be dressed up in red wraps/skirts, headbands and will run the lodge for an hour under the guidance of Tristen Daniels.
3:00 p.m. – Giveaway Ceremony
• Lead by (To be announced)
• All 4th year dancers must have a giveaway.
4:00 p.m. – Horse Ceremony
• Anyone who has dreamed of a horse will accompany Sherryl Blacksmith to the Horse ceremony.
• Needed: Blankets, cloth, water, rice and raisins, sweetgrass, ribbon and the horse cloth (white with polka dot).
5:30 p.m. - Windigo Ceremony
• Parents: Ensure the children do not follow the Windigos out.
7:00 p.m. – Sundance Closing Ceremony
• Dancers brought out
• Given first drink of water
• Final dance around David/Sherryl and the Drum
• Feast will be catered. Potluck is still recommended.
• Families: Bring your dancers favourite for them, they earned it!
• Do not forget your pipe.
Also, Dancers and visitors can bring extra metres of colourful cloth to hang on the rafters and beautify our lodge.
Monday, June 13th – Cleanup Day
David and Sherryl request that anyone who can stay behind and help cleanup (we must pickup everything, including cigarette butts, garbage, etc.)
Have only read this blog so far, way to go Steve. I have learned somethings already which I have been seeking for quite some time, migwiich.
ReplyDeleteI am trying to heal much like yourself, Steve, and have come to the conclusion I can not do it alone.
:)
Migwiich, g'bizhon omaa. I thank you for coming here. I try to talk about anything, Native and non-Native related.
ReplyDeleteStill trying to come to grips with why I blog. Mostly it was to keep my Boy alive here in my world and the world of others. This way he doesn't become just a memory. He is the driving force of things. I have other good things in my life and have to remember that. Depression can cloud that. Depression can turn even the brightest things, bleak.
Steve. I hope your heart heals and you rediscover joy in living. May nature, music and loved ones speed your recovery. My prayers are for you today.
ReplyDeleteI also want to take him up on the offer officially and in the right way to get trained under the Sundance Cheif formally. I would love to see him ASAP. 12042905051
ReplyDeleteYou know it might be best if you go see him directly. You know the protocols and it would be best to go visit with him with your offering and your intent. Thanks.
ReplyDelete