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Our belief system embraces the traditional as well as spiritual teachings that have been passed down from our ancestors through each generation and is based upon the natural world. To prepetuate the continuation of life, we participate in ceremonies throughout the year, during which we give thanks to each other, all living things in the natural and spiritual world, and to the Creator.
Mid-Winter is a multi-day ceremony for the beginning of the New Year. The ceremony that follows is Giving Thanks to the Maple as it is taught that the Maple tree is the leader of all the trees in the natural world. The running of the Maple sap marks the re-awakening of Mother Earth after her long winter sleep.
The Thunder Ceremony is held when we hear the first thunder in Spring, to welcome back our Grandfathers - The Thunder Beings, so that they may resume their task of cleansing the air and replenishing the waters of Mother Earth. The Seed Ceremony is to give thanks to the seeds whose power provides food for the people. The Strawberry Ceremony occurs in June, when the wild strawberries are ripe. The Strawberry is recognized as the leader of all of the medicine plants.
The String Bean and Green Corn Ceremonies are held next. Beans, Corn & Squash are the staples of our traditional diet and are known as The Three Sisters. The Harvest Ceremony marks the end of the ceremonial cycle.
At that time, we acknowledge our Mother the Earth for providing us with all that we need to survive as all of our ceremonies revolve around giving thanks for the gifts that we have been given.
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