Honor Sacred Tobacco
Tobacco is the first plant that the Creator gave to Native people. It is the main activator of all the plant spirits. Three other plants, sage, cedar and sweetgrass, follow tobacco and together they are referred to as the four sacred medicines.
The four sacred medicines are used in everyday life and ceremonies. All of them can be used to smudge with; though sage, cedar and sweetgrass may have many other uses.
It is said that tobacco sits in the eastern door, sweetgrass in the southern door, sage in the west and cedar in the north. Elders say that the spirits like the aroma produced when we burn tobacco and the other sacred medicines.
Traditional Tobacco
Written by Josh DePerry – MAKWA Peer Leader
IN THE BEGINNING…
Huron Indian myth has it that in ancient times, when the land was barren and the people were starving, the Great Spirit sent forth a woman to save humanity.
As she traveled over the world, everywhere her RIGHT HAND touched the soil, there grew POTATOES. And everywhere her LEFT HAND touched the soil, there grew CORN.
And when the world was rich and fertile, she SAT down and rested. When she arose, there grew TOBACCO…
Did You Know?
Aboriginal people accept tobacco as a gift of life
Tobacco is used to heal sickness
When used in a “Sacred Pipe” tobacco is not inhaled
Traditional tobacco is used in the sweat lodge as an offering/medicine
Traditional tobacco is not harmful if used properly
Other uses of traditional tobacco are offering to Creator
Tobacco is offered to the spirits of the animal for food when hunted