First Nations Culture

By Alexis Holmgren

It was my pleasure to join in on a session about First Nations culture. The session was run by a woman whose own status as a First Nation’s woman was hidden from her for years due to the discrimination these people often face. Since she discovered her status as a First Nation’s woman as an adult she has become very in touch with her culture. The session opened the eyes of girls from many different backgrounds to the harsh realities that exist in Canadian history about the treatment of First Nations people. This includes many attempts at assimilation by the government (i.e. the motto “take the Indian out of the child”) and residential schools. We often tend to forget just how much damage was done and what the extent of that damage is.

We discussed the traditional medicine wheel and talked about what happens in sweat lodges which are an important spiritual part of First Nation’s culture where they often go to pray. We then partook in a traditional smudging ceremony where sage was burned and were taught to take the smoke to our eyes to see what the Creator wants us to see, our ears to hear what the Creator wants us to hear, our feet to walk the earth and leave nothing behind, and our hearts to live by the seven sacred teachings which are very similar to the Girl Guide law.

In addition, we created our own medicine pouches containing the four important medicines corresponding with the medicine wheel (sage, sweet grass, fungus, and cedar) as well as tobacco which is placed down on the ground to honor an animal that has died for your survival in order to lift its spirit up to the Creator. Lastly, we learned a traditional friendship circle dance that is done when neighboring groups go to visit each other as a sign of welcome and friendship between their groups. Having girls from all over the world come together to sing and dance something so traditional that many had never heard of before was a truly unique and amazing experience.

I am a strong believer that we must learn what happened in our history and why it happened or we are doomed to repeat the cycle again. I believe everyone should have this experience because it is such a different twist on the traditional method of learning history from a book and engages the participants. When we are able to experience these traditions first-hand, the barriers are removed and all of a sudden the issues that seem not to affect us are made personal.