BY: JULIE E.

     “O Great Spirit, whose voice I hear in the winds, and whose breath gives life to the world… Make my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunset… Make me wise so that I may know the things you have taught your children, the lessons you have hidden in every leaf and rock.”

     From this quote alone, it is clear that Aboriginals belong to one of the most spiritual religions on this Earth. They are interconnected with the entire world, physically and mentally. They have a “cosmocentric," or nature-centered worldview, unlike most other religions. It is not to say that they do not still believe in a God, whom they refer to as “Great Spirit”. They believe that all nature is alive, and that the Great Spirit is in all of it. This is why a cosmocentric worldview is more appropriate for this religion.
      
     There are six traits that are common in all religions; and the two that would sum up most of aboriginal spirituality would be the sacred symbols and rituals, and the sacred stories of the people and how the world came to be.
 

     Some of the symbols that aboriginals consider sacred are just decoration to us. We’ve probably bought them at flea markets, or as souvenirs on vacation. Little do we know that they have real, and sacred meanings to aboriginals. An example would be the totem. You have probably bought the mini versions of totems, thinking they were cute, or taken pictures with the giant ones while visiting another town. Totems are extremely important to aboriginals. They symbolize a family or clan; it is a welcoming pole, it greets people. On a less welcoming note, they are also used as grave markers. They are made up of animals mostly; as aboriginals find much importance in nature.

     Another thing you’ve probably bought and hung up in your room is a dream catcher. They are not only for looks, as in the aboriginal culture, they are thought to catch your bad dreams and have the sun destroy them.

    The most sacred thing, that I am sure not many people out of the aboriginal heritage have heard about, is the medicine wheel. It is a circle, split into four colours, that represents the interconnectedness of everything. It represents the circle of life.

     There are also a few important rituals that aboriginals perform. These are the two that I find most important; the Pow Wow, and the smudging ceremony.

  
     The Pow Wow is a traditional ceremony that includes dancing, singing, and family. Pow Wows are dedicated to warriors. This is why the people wear feathers as part of their costume; each feather represents a fallen soldier. This ceremony is also a way of giving thanks to the Great Spirit for all that the Earth gives to the people. Please visit this link to take a look at what a typical Pow Wow ceremony looks and sounds like! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDh0pZrVLA0

     I personally like this next ceremony because it does not necessarily have to be performed by someone of the aboriginal culture. It is the smudging ceremony. This is done to purify the mind and spirit. Tobacco is burned and waved everywhere, as it cleanses thoughts. I am able to compare this to Christianity, as it reminds me of confession except in a more personal way.

      Another important aspect of both all religions and aboriginal spirituality are the sacred stories. Most of these stories are creation stories, which can be compared to the many creation stories of the Catholic religion. An example of a creation story from an aboriginal stand point is “Turtle Island," the story about how land was created. There are also stories about how pain and suffering entered our lives, and about how rituals and customs came to be. All of these stories are myths, however.

     There is one last important aspect of sacred stories, and it is that everyone has a spirit animal or spirit guide. I especially like this point because I can easily relate it to my world, and my religion. Although we don't use animals as inner spirits, we were brought up learning that God was physically in every one of us. I feel connected to aboriginals in a sense that we’ve all been taught that there is a leading spirit in all of us.