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- Viewed 1555 times
- Uploaded on September 6, 2007
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by Piotr Jablonski -
Extra information
- Camera: NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D40
- Taken on 2007/08/10 15:31:32
- Exposure: 0.017s (1/60)
- Focal Length: 28.00mm
- F/Stop: f/4.200
- ISO Speed: ISO400
- Exposure Bias: -1.00 EV
- No flash
Comments
swedishhighball, on March 24, 2008, said:
In October, 1979, I stayed on Garden Island for a week. I walked from the lake in the island toward the bay when I came to the grave yard. I am not a superstitious person but when I sat on a log to contemplate my surroundings, I felt a great chill come over me. The day was hot but I was cold. It was almost as if the native Americans buried there were telling me to leave. It was very spooky to say the least. I was sitting and looking at a peculiar item. There was a stick stuck in the ground with grass wrapped around it. It was about four feet long. Off the end of the stick was a white stone. It was hanging below a red cloth and a blue cloth. They were shaped like bow ties. The stick resembled a fishing pole stuck in the ground with the line and sinker hanging off of the end. I asked several Native American elders about the meaning of it. They said the colored cloth and white stone were significant religious symbols. The grass was no doubt sweet grass. Who placed it there and for what reason is unknown. The graveyard is very old. I saw two stone markers there. They were dated in the 1920's. There were many wooden spirit houses built over the graves. The whole area covered about three acres. The following was given to me by an Ojibwe elder. It should be shared with anyone interested in the Native American culture. OTTAWA AND OJIBWA BURIAL CEREMONY
The Ottawa and Ojibwa Indians lived in a natural environment and derived their religious beliefs from natural observations. They believed that the sun was reborn each morning and that it died each night. It rose in the East in the yellow light of birth, and set in the West in the red light of death. During the day they could see shadows from every object in the direct light of the sun and reasoned that the shadow had to be the spirit of the object. If they destroyed, killed, or used an object, animal, etc.,. In any way, the spirit of that object or animal would get in to their storehouse in the land of shadows. To prepare for this great event in their lives they formed a great ceremony around the burial of loved ones. They made preparations for the Ottawa - Ojibwa spirit of death, called Pauguk, and when he came to call on one of their loved ones, a feast was prepared and preparation of the body began. After the feast of the dead, a blanket or mat was wrapped around the body, the birch or cedar bark. Then the body was taken out through a window, head first by selected older people. Older people lived many, many winters and were filled with wisdom from a long life. If the body was taken out through the usual door it would be inviting others to go too. If no windows were available, a hole was made in the back of the lodge, away from the door, for exit of the body. When the funeral procession was part way to the cemetery, a chant was started and timed so it would end about the time they got to the grave. At the burial grounds were many small peaked roofs just above the ground level. They were constructed of birch, elm, or cedar bark in olden times; In recent years houses of planks or squared timbers have been erected. The body was laid along of the grave and the speaker of the tribe talked to the deceased. "You will notice your path from the grave to the West. You will notice the footprints of your kin, your ancestors who went before you. At the path to the side you will hear someone calling you. Don't go! It is someone trying to steer you off. Follow the footsteps of your ancestors." The body was then lowered into the grave, usually about three feet deep, which had been lined with birch bark. The body was dressed in it's best clothes and placed in the birch bark lining. Sometimes the dog of the deceased was killed and placed with the body if it had been an inseparable companion. Usually the possessions of the deceased: arrows, spearheads, fishing equipment, beads, etc. Were placed in the grave. First they were chipped or broken to let the soul of the article out so that it might go with the owner. [Soul or Spirit are synonyms in Ottawa - OJIBWA legends] When everything was placed in the grave, one of the medicine men stood at the end of the grave and talked to the spirit of the body. He would tell of the good done by the deceased, and explain the journey to the Land of Shadows should be started without fear. This land, Ponemah, was believed to be a pleasant place, full of peace and plenty. Following is a typical oration translated into English: "It is indeed a sad thing for your brothers that you have called so soon to make this journey. It fills our hearts with an ache of sadness, although we should not be affected, as we know that those who have entered this journey have done so for the better. This undertaking consists of trials that are difficult to endure but we have no fear that you will fail." "We have given you food, a companion [a dog] , and the necessary items for your trip". ” We will, each night of your journey, light a fire so that you will not be in the darkness nor without fire to cook your food and warm your spirit". (This fire was to be transformed in to a spirit fire for the use of the body on the journey. "You are now facing the setting sun so you can see before you the red path of death across the blue waters upon which your spirit must travel in perfect peace for one day." {Sun} (For this reason most burial grounds were located near the water so that the view of the setting sun was possible from the graves. The burial grounds was generally found West of the village, with water West of the burial ground.} "When you arrive at the brink of a great divide or canyon in your path, you will eat the food that we have placed before you and the fire will give you peace and contentment". " When the sun appears at your back, you will behold a Great Serpent [Kitchi Kenebek] who will appear as a log. Tread upon the Great Serpent fearlessly and boldly , thinking only of the pleasures ahead. This evil one may writhe and twist into many shapes, hoping to shake you into the beyond, into the canyon below." "But if your conscience is clear, your footing will be firm and you will arrive at the Great Strawberry when the second sun has gone to rest”. [If a good and satisfactory life has not been lived, the Serpent will throw the deceased into the canyon , where he will wander and suffer until repented and can climb out of the canyon and back on the path of death.] " You will continue your journey during the second sun until the sun is setting at your back going to rest. You will see the Great Strawberry [Gitchi Odaymin]. Do not eat it as it is the food of evil spirits who want you to leave the path of your ancestors and follow the ways of them. Go beyond the Kitchie Odaymin to make your meal from the food we give you and warm yourself by the fire. If your conscience is clear you will not eat the strawberrybut if not, you will eat a sleep a long time, and your fire will go out. Keep your eyes on the Path of the Death and think of the good pleasure in Ponemah." " You will get an early start on the third sun and travel in great peace and with great speed. The warm sun will make your spirit light and your burden easy and you will come upon a Great Silver Wigwam [Gitchi Wegewam] where a Great Old Man [Kitchi Akewesi} will be sitting outside waiting for you. He will give you food and fire to warm your spirit and tell you how to continue your journey . He has the wisdom of long hair and many, many winters. He is your friend and does not speak with a forked tongue. Listen to him. He will say to you, "go now". You will enter a veil of fog, keeping you in uncertainty. Then you will be relieved of your physical burden and you will find great peace. You will camp on the shore of a Spiritual Lake of music until the sun again shall appear." "On the fourth appearance of the sun you will behold a Great White canoe of stone [Gitchi Tchiman} approaching the shore with a very old man paddling. As it comes to the shore, step in without hesitating or speaking. Go with a clear conscience and you will have a peaceful voyage. If you are troubled, a storm will come up, and capsize your canoe and you will have to swim to shore and wait, and suffer until another canoe comes back. You will have no food or fire as we gave you food for only four suns of travel, and fire will only be kept four suns. This canoe will carry you to the Isle of Ponemah, the Land of Shadows or Spirits, where you will meet all who have gone before you. Your ancestors will welcome you and they will have a great feast for your arrival. The fire never goes out here, the forest is always green, and is full of animals. You will be happy and peaceful with the Great Chief [Gitchi Manitou]. Farewell, our brother, until we meet again." The sun sets over the water West of the burial ground and the medicine man begins to light the fire. The four day journey and vigil begins, as the spirit strikes out on the Path of Death, fearlessly and boldly, knowing he will arrive in Ponemah at the appointed time. The long red reflection of the setting sun on the water grows dimmer, and soon disappears into the night.
Submitted by W.G. Nelson; author of Harvey the Great Lakes Whale. (available on ebay)