The sweat lodge deaths in Sedona are still very much on people's minds. Susie Ellis of SpaFinder just wrote an excellent blog calling spas to a higher level of professionalism, and the conversation is still very active on "Sweat Lodge Deaths: Be Careful Who You Trust" and "Sweat Lodge Deaths At 'Spa' Near Sedona."
I want to share an article on sweat lodges that was sent to me with an invitation to put it up on the site. It was written by Mahiwo Agdeppa, traditional cultural practitioner for the Dolphin Clan of Chumash Indians, whose territorial boundary is from Topanga to Carpenteria, California.
I'm putting it up because there's a lot of anger about how the sweat lodge was used and conducted in Sedona, and I think this article gives a valuable and interesting Native American perspective. I hope you find it useful.
An Explanation of Sweat Lodges
by Mahiwo Agdeppa
"Sweat lodges were basically illegal to participate in until 1978, when the Native American Religious Freedom Act was passed by Congress and President Jimmy Carter.
"The sweat lodge ceremony was mainly used by Native American men to cleanse and purify before going hunting or into other ceremonies for healing. It was never intended to be used as a church.
"Archie Fire Lamedeer, a medicine person with Lakota Sioux was responsible during that time for introducing the sweat lodge in many areas, especially California and Nevada prison systems. The instructions were pretty simple. The participants would go into a little hut where a medicine person or a pipe carrier would guide them in prayer and song.
"The temperature in the sweat lodge was rather hot and if a participant was having difficulty they were given water or the door would be opened to let cool air in. All the participants would aid a person who might be having difficulty. Sage was dipped into water and given to the person to place in their mouth and breath through it. If the person continued to have difficulty they would go outside and rest while the ceremony continued.
"Once the ceremony ended, all the participants would plunge in a large body of water, whether that be a river, pond, lake. Some people have tried to modify the ceremony by using a bucket of water or water holes which is not acceptable. The conditions in the sweat lodge produce the same conditions as a heat stroke, which treatment for is to immediately submerge a person in cool water.
"Women have started to participate in the sweat lodge now with their bodies fully clothed. They are not able to breath or experience the sweat lodge in a natural pure way. Hazards with wearing clothing is also that the clothing can get twisted around you or caught under someone else which in certain circumstances can inhibit you to exit the lodge to get fresh air when needed.
"'Unfortunately, the sweat lodge became a fad and a lot of aspects were modified for the convenience of the public. The normal ceremony usually consists of 12-15 people and was never paid for. In the traditional ways people require money to get a medicine person to their ceremony by providing a stipend which would pay transportation, lodging and food to and from the location.
"Other monies would be raised for gas to go harvest rocks and gather firewood. The sweat lodge was never considered a commercial venture. It is a community based ceremony for health and cleansing. It's not a torture chamber where your prayers are "God help me out of here, I can't breath, I'm burning." With that thought you have broken your circle and you have no ceremony. "
Have you ever visited a sweat lodge? Share your own sweat lodge experience and thoughts.
Date: Sun, 18 Oct 2009 21:34:02 -0500
This is a statement from Arvol Looking Horse.
——————————————————————————–
Subject: Statement concerning Sedona deaths
As Keeper of our Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe Bundle, I am concerned for
the 2 deaths and illnesses of the many people that participated in a sweat
lodge in Sedona, Arizona that brought our sacred rite under fire in the
news. I would like to clarify that this lodge and many others, are not our
ceremonial way of life, because of the way they are being conducted. My
prayers go out for their families and loved ones for their loss.
Our ceremonies are about life and healing, from the time this ancient
ceremonial rite was given to our people, never has death been a part of our
inikagıa (life within) when conducted properly. Today the rite is
interpreted as a sweat lodge, it is much more then that. So the term does
not fit our real meaning of purification.
Inikagıa is the oldest ceremony brought to us by Wakan Tanka (Great Spirit).
19 generations ago, the Lakota/Dakota/Nakota Oyate (people), were given
seven sacred rites of healing by a Spirit Woman Pte San Win (White Buffalo
Calf Woman). She brought these rites along with our sacred Cıanupa (pipe) to
our People, when our ancestors were suffering from a difficult time. It was
also brought for the future to help us for much more difficult times to
come. They were brought to help us stay connected to who we are as a
traditional cultural People. The values of conduct are very strict in any
of these ceremonies, because we work with spirit. The way the Creator,
Wakan Tanka told us; that if we stay humble and sincere, we will keep that
connection with the inyan oyate (the stone people), who we call the
Grandfathers, to be able to heal our selves and loved ones. We have a
³gift² of prayer and healing and have to stay humble with our Uncıi Maka
(Grandmother Earth) and with one another. The inikagıa is used in all of the
seven sacred rites to prepare and finish the ceremonies, along with the
sacred eagle feather. The feather represents the sacred knowledge of our
ancestors.
Our First Nations People have to earn the right to pour the mini wicıoni
(water of life) upon the inyan oyate (the stone people) in creating Inikagıa
- by going on the vision quest for four years and four years Sundance. Then
you are put through a ceremony to be painted – to recognize that you have
now earned that right to take care of someoneıs life through purification.
They should also be able to understand our sacred language, to be able to
understand the messages from the Grandfathers, because they are ancient,
they are our spirit ancestors. They walk and teach the values of our
culture; in being humble, wise, caring and compassionate.
What has happened in the news with the make shift sauna called the sweat
lodge is not our ceremonial way of life!
When you do ceremony – you can not have money on your mind. We deal with the
pure sincere energy to create healing that comes from everyone in that
circle of ceremony. The heart and mind must be connected. When you involve
money, it changes the energy of healing. The person wants to get what they
paid for; the Spirit Grandfathers will not be there, our way of life is now
being exploited! You do more damage then good. No² mention² of monetary
energy should exist in healing, not even with a can of love donations. When
that energy exists, they will not even come. Only ĵafterı the ceremony,
between the person that is being healed and the Intercessor who has helped
connect with the Great Spirit, the energy of money can be given out of
appreciation. That exchange of energy is from the heart; it is private and
does not involve the Grandfathers! Whatever gift of appreciation the person
who received the help, can now give the Intercessor what ever they feel
their healing is worth.
In our Prophesy of the White Buffalo Calf Woman, she told us that she would
return and stand upon the earth when we are having a hard time. In 1994 this
began to happen with the birth of the white buffalo, not only their nation,
but many animal nations began to show their sacred color, which is white.
She predicted that at this time there would be many changes upon Grandmother
Earth. There would be things that we never experienced or heard of before;
climate changes, earth changes, diseases, disrespect for life and one
another would be shocking and there would be also many false prophets!
My Grandmother that passed the bundle to me said I would be the last Keeper
if the Oyate (people) do not straighten up. The assaults upon Grandmother
Earth are horrendous, the assaults toward one another was not in our
culture, the assaults against our People (Oyate) have been termed as
genocide, and now we are experiencing spiritual genocide!
Because of the problems that began to arise with our rebirth of being able
to do our ceremonies in the open since the Freedom of Religion Act of 1978,
our Elders began talking to me about the abuses they seen in our ceremonial
way of life, which was once very strict. After many years of witnessing
their warnings, we held a meeting to address this very issue of lack of
protocol in our ceremonies. After reaching an agreement of addressing the
misconduct of our ceremonies and reminding of the proper protocols, a
statement was made in March 2003. Every effort was made to insure our way
of life of who we are as traditional cultural People was made, because these
ways are for our future and all life upon the Grandmother Earth (Mitakuye
Oyasin All my relations), so that they may have good health. Because these
atrocities are being mocked and practiced all over the world, there was even
a film we made called ³Spirits for Sale².
The non-native people have a right to seek help from our ³First Nation
Intercessors² for good health and well-being, it is up to that Intercessor.
That is a privilege for all People that we gift for being able to have good
health and understand that their protocol is to have respect and appreciate
what we have to share. The First Nations Intercessor has to earn that right
to our ceremonial way of life in the ways I have explained.
At this time, I would like to ask all Nations upon Grandmother Earth to
please respect our sacred ceremonial way of life and stop the exploitation
of our Tunka Oyate (Spiritual Grandfathers).
In a Sacred Hoop of Life, where there is no ending and no beginning!
Namahıu yo (hear my words),
Chief Arvol Looking Horse, 19th Generation Keeper of the Sacred White
Buffalo Calf Pipe Bundle.
This is precisely why we dont discuss this issue. It is not a church – it is a sacred ceremony and why go on to discribe something that is so sacred. I am tried of the white man playing indian and using our ways to profit.
Just pray for those that passed on and stop discribing our ways so that others take it and do as this self guru has!
Done is Done!
What gives anyone the right to say “do not say this” “do not describe that” ?
There is no wrong or harm asking for respect for ceremonial or sacred ways.
I just want to thank Arvol for his excellent response to these deaths, and for addressing, the adulteration of the sacred ceremonies, so carefully passed down for centuries.
As a “mixed blood” I am eternally greatful to the old ones who have been willing to share the traditions with sincere students. We sure need opportunities to go into ceremony together now, more than ever.
Let this become a good thing, one that brings the heart-centered people together in a good way, to pray together, as we all celebrate this time of rebirth, of the end of the cycle of separation, and the beginning of true nurturing and Respect.
I would like to thank Arvol for his description of this beautiful event. I have experienced a sweat in my youth that did not adhere to a therapuetic or spiritual protocol. I quite simply did not recieve the Spirit, but in my ignorance mistook this as a valid ritual.
Later in life, I had a much more traditional experience and got so much more out of it. This sweat was hosted by a person who was not of aboriginal descent, but had learned about ceremony from elders willing( much like Arvol ) to share the old ways with people of all colors.
I myself, am not of aboriginal heritage, (in this lifetime anyway), but I attend events sponsored by elders and seek true teachings. I have been told that peoples of all colors should come together under the Great Spirit. I believe to do this I should be knowledgeable of ceremony, prayer, prophecy, and be willing to recieve the gifts of the Grandmothers and Grandfathers. It makes it difficult to be a student when elders do not want to share their ways, because of my ignorance. As a school teacher, I know, that when faced with ignorance you work even harder to overcome it, not walk the other way.
So again, thank you Arvol. I will share your comments with my son, and perhaps if he chooses the same path I have, he will be less ignorant of this ritual.
Justin
First of all i want to commend those that have spoke up. we have been quiet long enough. I myself am a full blooded Dine and was raised by my grandfather who was a hand trembler and also a nonsleeper, and crystal gazer, the tachee is not a thing to be played with, it is not a sauna it is the very womb of mother earth, yes we have only one God in our way we call him Diyin its not evan a title its a description of all that he is, all powerful. the most glorious, the most holy, and on and on… he gave us these ways as first nations people, and yes the Tachee was meant to purify. and heal. but it is much more than that, how is it the western european expects us to respect their ways but he continually disrespects the Native ways of worship and ceremony, we as native people need to protect our culture and heritage. I also believe we can share what the creator gave us but first watch the person you share with, be wary of those who want to exploit for monetary gain
to the familys of those who made the journey to the other side, I am sorry for your loss, careful next time who you trust in make sure you are making friends with a real native, a child of the great creator..check for CIB or tribal enrollement..