Indigenous Spirituality

An umbrella definition of Indigenous Canadian spirituality does not exist when acknowledging the diversity among the Indigenous groups of Canada. Each nation defines their spirituality that is specific to their community. For example, some Métis people in what used to be the Red River Métis Colony in Manitoba may practice Anglicanism, whereas the Plains Cree in Goodfish Lake, Alberta practice traditional Cree philosophy - the belief that the elements of the Earth and humans are interrelated.

Despite the complexity of Indigenous people’s spiritual identity, there are similarities seen in many nations across the country.

So what are the commonalities?

Believing in ‘The Creator’

Who is the Creator?

Terminology that is used to refer to the Creator differs depending on the nation. Plains Cree people generally use the term ‘Creator’ while the Sioux use ‘Wakan Tanka.’ The Creator is a higher spirit that is responsible for creating the Earth and everything in it.

What are the Responsibilities of the Creator?

In prayer, the Creator provides one with spiritual and cultural guidance, especially for things like safety, knowledge, mental and physical health, healing, humility, respect, integrity, and unconditional love.

What is YOUR Responsibility as a Child of Mother Earth?

In Plains Cree culture, you are expected to treat Mother Earth with the utmost respect, as she is the reason why you are alive. As an individual, you are also expected to treat everyone you encounter with honesty, integrity, love, and kindness.

How to Connect With the Creator

My Nohkom - the Cree word for ‘my grandma’ - says that there are certain things one can look out for to know if the Creator is communicating with you. One of the most common ways is by visual communication with nature: “the creator speaks to us only if we listen...she will tell us when she will rain… the leaves on trees will turn upside down, showcasing the shiny part of the leaf.”

Burning Herbs and Plants

Residential schools and discriminatory laws set in place by the Government of Canada in an attempt to “destroy the Indian and save the man” has resulted in a significant loss of cultural and spiritual knowledge. One thing that still remains, however, is a ritual called smudging - or spiritual cleansing.

What one uses to smudge depends on what is readily available in their environment. Indigenous people on Treaty 6 territory usually use sweetgrass, sage, or pine

How you can smudge traditionally:

Traditionally, one should pick twenty-one strands of sweetgrass, dividing them into three groups of seven. The first seven strands represent the seven generations behind us, the second group represents the seven sacred teachings (love, honesty, integrity, courage, wisdom, truth, and humility), and the last strands represent the future seven generations.

Sweetgrass, and other plants and herbs, acts as a vehicle to connect with the Creator and Mother Earth. What one prays for depends on the individual, but it typically involves asking for guidance, health, and healing for the past, present, and future generations.

Powwows

Historically:

Powwows in some Algonquian nations were a place of healing and in other nations they were a celebration where one could safely celebrate one’s Indigeneity.

Today:

Powwows are a mixture of spiritual healing, a celebration of Indigenous heritage, and a social gathering. Powwows typically take place in the summer near towns or cities for two to three days.

Powwows can be either private, only inviting people registered in that nation, or competitive, welcoming dancers and people from across North America to compete.

The Organization, Simply Put

Powwows are divided into different types of dances, and each one has a prize for landing first place. Some dances are gender-specific, others are inclusive to all.

For some, Powwows can also serve as an opportunity to expand clientele and business by showcasing culinary skills or artwork in the form of a vendor.

The Medicine Wheel

The medicine wheel affects how Aboriginal people view the world - the process by which the world grows and evolves and the interconnectivity between man and nature.

Each nation has their own interpretation of the medicine wheel, hence the information provided below may not be applicable to each nation. Where I’m from, Kelly Lake Cree Nation in North Eastern British Columbia, the medicine wheel is composed of four points, each one representing an element of one's being:

Conclusion

From East to West and North to South, 634 First Nations and over 50+ languages lay in the boundaries of Canada. Despite the differences, at the end of the day, they are all Aboriginal Canadian, and can celebrate that identity through the commonalities listed above.

References

The Faith Project. (n.d.) Aboriginal Spirituality. http://thefaithproject. nfb.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/TFP_Aboriginal_Dec2014.pdf

Korff, J. (2019, May 7). What is Aboriginal spirituality? Creative Spirits. https://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/spirituality/ what-is-aboriginal-spirituality

Preston, R.J. (2018, July 24). Cree. The Canadian Encyclopedia. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/cree

Smith, D.G. (2018, April 9). Religion and Spirituality of Indigenous Peoples in Canada. The Canadian Encyclopedia. https://www.thecanadianen cyclopedia.ca/en/article/religion-of-aboriginal-people

http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/en/native-spirituality-guide