A Native American Medicine Man or Woman knew thousands of herbal plant cures. Scientists have proven that many of the plants that were commonly used contain chemicals that have natural medicinal benefits.

White Willow bark was often used to cure a headache. The roots of the Rocky Mountain Iris were boiled and made into a tea that was used to help the digestive system. The leaves of the plant were used to heal cuts. Bark from the Aspen, Wild Cherry and White Pine and Wild-Sarsaparilla root were commonly used to treat coughs. Even today, many cold and cough remedies still contain these natural ingredients. Dandelion root was also made into a tea and drank as an overall tonic. Dandelion is still used as a tonic today by Herbalists around the world.

Native American Medicine Men were able to heal almost as many diseases as European doctors of the 19th century and held important places of honor within their tribes. A tribe's Medicine Man was their connection to the spirit world, but because of their great wisdom, the Medicine Man was also consulted with daily problems concerning marriage or money.

FARMING WITH RESPECT FOR THE LAND

Native American woman farming

Many Native American tribes were skilled farmers. Using simple tools such as stone hatchets, pointed sticks, bone shovels and hoes, they worked with the land to produce their crops. Corn was often the main crop grown. They would soak dried corn kernels in water before planting them in holes about three or four feet apart. Corn pollen was considered scared and used in many blessing ceremonies.

Groups of squash or beans were planted in dirt mounds. Small mounds of dirt were planted with several squash or bean seeds. Seeds were placed in the top of the mound. At the base of the mound, dead fish were buried as fertilizer for the growing plants. Since squash plants are vine-like and need to grow along the ground, dirt mounds gave room for these plants to grown out in all directions. Beans were also planted in groups. Beanpoles were erected over the mounds. Together, these poles looked something like a small tipi frame. The bean plants, which were also vines, would grow up the poles. This made it easy to find and pick the bean pods.

Most tribes would abandon their farmland after five or ten years and move on to clear new land for farming. Even though clearing new land was difficult, they believed that overusing the land would ruin the soil. They were probably the first farmers to understand the benefits of rotational farming, shifting crops from field to field so that the soil does not become depleted of the nutrients that plants need to grow.

POWERS OF THE SPIRTS

When a man, woman or child became sick, Native Americans believed that it was because the person was no longer in harmony or balance with nature. If a Medicine Man could not cure a disease with herbs or plants he or she worked with the spirits who they believed were angry or displeased and responsible for the illness. The Medicine Man had many ways of driving unwanted spirits away. He would use whatever methods were needed for a particular illness and the spirit causing the problem.

Native American priest/medicine man drumming

Kwakiutl Medicine Man's wand and dish

DOING BATTLE WITH THE SPIRITS

When a Medicine Man was called upon to deal with angry or displeased spirits, he would enlist the help of other spirits that he felt would be stronger and more positive than the negative ones. Sometimes a Medicine Man would wear the skins of powerful animals such as bears or snakes in order to absorb the spirit of their strength and wisdom. This helped him to do "battle" against the disease causing spirits. Sometimes carved instruments representing rival spirits were used to frighten and chase away the unwanted spirits.

SAND PAINTINGS

Sand paintings are used as part of a long and complex curing ritual that also involves chanting, herbal drinks and smoke purification. Only specially trained persons such as a Medicine Man can create sand paintings and perform the ceremony. Sand paintings are ritual objects that help to restore harmony and balance. The patient is placed in the center of the painting, which absorbs the negative energy forces causing the illness.

Working inside a hogan, the Medicine Man holds the sand in their hand and controls the flow of the sand by letting it slide down between their thumb and index finger. From memory and in proper order, they draw a prescribed pattern of scared symbols or images representing supernatural beings. Sand paintings are beautiful, complex and require many hours of work but they are never intended to be permanent. They are erased as soon as the ceremony is complete, traditionally before sunset.

The Navajo are skilled at sand paintings and still practice these ceremonies today. They live in an area of the country that offers natural sands in a striking variety of colors. There are five sacred colors. Each color has special and specific meaning in a sand painting. White symbolizes the east, the dawn, spring, youth and new beginnings. White can also stand for evil forces such as White Thunder or Great White Serpent. Black represents the north, the night, old age and death. Blue is used to represent the south, summer and happiness. Yet, the Blue Star meant misfortune and the Great Blue Snake causes epidemics. Yellow is for the west and stands for autumn and the maturing of life. Red is the only color that does not stand for a direction. It is used to symbolize power, life and danger.

Father Sky, Mother Earth sand painting design

MEDICINE BAGS

Medicine bags or bundles were common to Plains tribes and many Northeast and Plateau tribes. Most Native American men and some women carried these bags made from animal skins such as beaver, otter or mink. It was believed that the more rare the animal skin the more powerful the bag would be. These bags were filled with special items collected by the person wearing them. Native Americans would often collect items from special places such as geysers, waterfalls, whirlpools, mineral deposits, or trees struck by lightning. They believed that these places possessed special spiritual powers and that items from these places also contained spiritual powers that would protect them from harmful forces. Native Americans collected herbs, roots, pollen, interesting stones, feathers or animal horns, teeth and bones to put in their medicine bags.

A LOSING BATTLE

As powerful and well trained as Medicine Men and Women were, they could not protect their tribes from disease brought over from Europe by the white man. Diseases such as measles and smallpox would sometimes wipe out an entire village. Native Americans had no immune system in their bodies that could cope with these infectious and virulent diseases.

HONORING THE TWO LEGGED AND THE FOUR LEGGED: NATIVE AMERICAN RELIGION

THE GREAT SPIRIT AND THE CIRCLE OF LIFE

Native Americans believed that everything had a spirit and that all things were interconnected. They honored a "Great Spirit" who they believed created the world. They honored all creatures great and small, the trees, their crops and the land itself. Everyone and everything was important and all things deserved respect. Balance and harmony were important as life moved in a continuous circle, one thing affecting another. Their religion was complex and a daily part of their lives with special prayers, legends, dances, rituals, masks and dolls.

GREAT TURTLE

Every tribe had unique legends that were used to teach and help explain about the world around them. Most tribes have a creation story. This is a story of how they believe the world began and they came into being. Many Native American Indians believe that many years ago everything was covered by water and that the world came to be formed on the back of a turtle. They call the world "Great Turtle." When you honor the turtle you are treating the earth with respect. When you do not take care of the earth you are hurting the turtle. The turtle represents the earth and nature. Other animals also have special meanings to Native American Indians. For example, the horse represents freedom and speed. A bat is a good guide, since they have excellent hearing and other sensing powers that compensate for their poor eyesight. Eagles have extremely good eyesight and are excellent hunters. They symbolize power and are considered sacred messengers. The bear represents strength and confidence. Ants are symbols of loyalty. Each ant knows their job and works with the other ants. A snake is a symbol of life and health. Snakes shed their skins each year. If a person wants to shed a bad habit they will think of the snake.

KACHINA DOLLS

Indians of the Southwest have made Kachina dolls for many. Most Pueblo people made Kachinas but the Hopi and Zuni are best known for this craft. These dolls are not toys. They are a powerful and supernatural religious folk art representing Kachina Spirits. The dolls represent dancers, men who dress as the Kachinas for ceremonial purposes. Dolls are given to babies, girls and young women as a prayer. They help to familiarize and involve the younger members of a tribe with the religion of their village.

Hopi Kachina dancers

Kachina spirits can help bring the rain, make the land fertile or ensure that there are many animals to hunt. They can also cure disease, punish someone for misdeeds, amuse or awe. Kachinas are divided into categories such as Mong or Chief Kachinas, Runner Kachinas, Guards, Clowns, Ogres and many others. The Ogres were used to frighten children into obeying their parents.

Traditional Hopi Kachinas are carved from the roots of the cottonwood tree after the root has broken away and dried out. The Hopi believed that the roots of the cottonwood tree seek out water, a most important resource in the desert. These roots are porous and easily carved. Sharp stones and sandstones were once used to carve these dolls. After carving, they were painted with natural pigments and then decorated with feathers, shells, fur or leather.

Village Totem Poles in Alaska

TOTEM POLES

Totem Poles were a way for Northwest Native Americans to share information. They were part of their oral tradition and helped to tell other people about themselves and their families. Memorial Poles were carved to celebrate special events such as births or weddings. Totem Poles that are actually part of a house are House Post Totems, a Mortuary Pole is carved for the dead and the most common Totem Pole is the Family Totem Pole.

The Family Totem Pole used symbols to represent the power, wealth and standing of a family within their community. Often these poles were erected during a potlatch ceremony. Potlatch means to give away. These ceremonies could last for several days and would take months to plan and prepare for. During the potlatch, a clan would give away gifts and property to show their wealth and status. Sometimes they would even destroy their own property to prove that they were wealthy enough to replace it. The more a clan gave away the higher their status would go. The Kwakiutl was the most extravagant version of the potlatch. A recipient of a Kwakiutl potlatch gift would have to give away twice as much at the next potlatch. If someone were given two goat hair blankets at a potlatch they would be expected to give away four at the next potlatch. Sometimes, in order to repay this debt of kindness, a man might be forced to give away all his belongings. The potlatch could be used to honor friends or ruin enemies.

Each Totem Pole tells a story using magical creatures that can transform from human to animal or animal to human. They live in the Sky Realm, the Realm or the Underwater Realm. Some can travel between the realms and some are stuck in just one realm.

Each mystical animal/human has special or unusual characteristics. Beavers hate humans, Wolves are good drummers, the Devilfish or Octopus is attracted to the color red, Bears hate Thunderbirds and Frogs are associated with bringing great fortune or wealth. If you insult Frog he will tattle to Copper Woman who lives in the Undersea Realm and she will cause volcanic eruptions.

Many Europeans had the wrong idea when they first saw Totem Poles. They thought that they were horrible monsters that the Native American Indians worshiped as gods. Many early missionaries helped to destroy Totem Poles and discouraged the people from carving more. The art of carving Totem Poles almost died out but is now flourishing again as many people are now recognizing the beauty and significance of them.

MASKS, DANCES AND RITUALS

Masks had many purposes. They could be used purely for entertainment or for spiritual and medicinal purposes. Native American Indians believe that when you wear a mask, the spirit of the animal or creature symbolized in the mask enters you. This allows you to share in its wisdom, strength or purpose.

Every tribe has its own dances and rituals. Dances and rituals were a way for Native American Indians to give thanks and honor the creator for furnishing them with everything that is on earth. Dances and rituals were also a way to mark important events such as births, deaths and entrance into adulthood.

Zuni ceremony of the sword swallowers