8000 Drums: Spring Equinox Ceremony

on Sunday March 22 at the Hamilton Museum of Steam & Technology. My cousin and I arrived there at 6:30am. It's funny because I am really not a morning person yet I felt strangley energized and awake. The weather wasn't the greatest, cold and drizzling.

The ceremony was Native American. A circle of stones lay on the grassy field with a fire in the middle. The "Eastern door" entrance of the circle had 5 bowls of different Native "medicines". I couldn't identify all of them but there was definitley sage and tabacco. There was a firekeeper, who's job was.. you guessed it- making sure the fire stay lit. I love the sound of firewood crackling and popping. It is soothing. the smell is nice as well.

The ceremony started with us entering the circle and grabbing some of the medicines and holding it in our left hands, this would eventually be an offering to the fire.

the firekeeper stared with a prayer of thanks to the Creator. In half English, half Ojibway. I learned a word, ha ha. Thank you-/migwich. A word I would come to hear over and over as the day went on.

The "Elder' also said a prayer to the Four Cornersd, to the sky, the earth and the Creator. There were opening and closing songs with sacred drums and a really cute Mohawk guy. (with an incredible voice)

The Elder passed certain things around. Strawberries representing the heart (funny, I never really noticed how closely they resemble a heart) dipped in sweet water, made from water and maple syrup. the signifiacance of the strawberries is it cleanses the blood and is the first berry to come up in spring.

We stood the whole time yest I never felt tired. The sun didn't really shine that day but the rain/drizzle did let up. We ate the strawberries, leaves and all. The Elder passed a home brewed tea around. It was fragrant. I wish I could have wrote down what was in it. Alas, I wasn't there in an observer capacity but rather as a participant. Its an actual ceremony and therefore was to be taken seriousuly, I am sure the presence of my notebook wouldn't have been welcome. But the tea was really good and soothing.

the peace pipe was passed around as well, though I did not smoke. the ceremony closed with everyone walking around the circle and acknowleding one another by either hug or handshake. It was actually touching..

Then it was inside for some breakfast. Waffles, eggs etc. Then we sat in a circle and drummed and sang. I was just getting over a cold and my throat was raw. I attempted to sing the one and only "indian" song I knew, it was kind of a disaster because my voice was broken but my life has been about living without fear lately so I led us in that song. Luckily for me most of the people there new it and once they took over I faded into the background again. We stayed there til 1130am then it was back home where I got in bed for a nap.

There will be more sunrise ceremonies in the Hamilton area this June at Gage Park. I can't wait.