Healers

Illnesses have always been part of societies, whether it’s a stomach ache to a head ache, or other more serious illnesses. In our modern day societies we have doctors, dentist, medication, x-rays machines, machines that can scan your entire body for most illnesses, to help prevent, diminished, or stop illnesses from taking someone’s life.  All these new technologies have assisted in saving countless lives. When you think about before all this technology, before sterilizers and forms of antibiotics, how did Anishnaabek individuals remain healthy and safe?

Pre-contact Anishnaabek people had individuals known as healers, who will aid the sick when needed (Johnston, 2002). In the past these individuals were represented as medicine men or women, shaman or herbalist (Johnston, 2002). These individuals use common and uncommon herbs and other materials to prevent, diminish or stop people’s pain and suffering from the illness. These individuals were known as being very spiritual and in tuned with nature. Individuals often believed that people who were ill had either angered the forces of nature, or individuals who have been possessed by evil spirits (Johnston, 2002). Therefore in order to get better and receive treatment these medicine men and women would be called upon to help individuals remove the taboo that they have brought upon themselves.

Each area of in the First Nations community had different values and beliefs that would alter how medicine man and women would assist those in need. For instance the Northwest Coast and Inuit healers would use powerful visions and go through extensive journeys (all the way to the spirit realm) to help cure those who had made these illnesses (Johnston, 2002).  In the Navajo area, through the use of complex ceremonies they would attempt to recreate the harmony of creation by invoking power Holy People to assist those who were ill (Johnston, 2002). Other areas would focus more on the herbalist method to help cure illness; meaning gathering different types of herbs and using different techniques to help individuals (Johnston, 2002).  In addition, the Ojibway`s believe in evil spirits called manitou`s. These spirits were able to posse the individual body and cause them to develop illnesses. Shaman were used in these cases to heal individuals, the shamans would enter a trance like state and eventually release the evil spirit from the individual`s body; therefore curing the person (Csordas & Lewton , 1998).

 

 If you would like to read more about these rituals the website listed below are two researcher papers go into greater depth and detail about each area and rituals that would be used in order to cure someone from their illness. It is interesting to see how much the culture and society has changed. I am unsure if certain First Nations area`s still practice these healing methods, but it would be very interesting to witness first hand.

Christine

References:

Csordas, T., & Lewton , E. (1998). Transcultural Psychiatry. Practice, performance, and experience in ritual healing. 35 (4), 435-512 Retrieved from http://resolver.scholarsportal.info/resolve/13634615/v35i0004/435_ppaeirh

Johnston, S. (2002, 09). The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. Native American Traditional and Alternative Medicine. 583 (1), 195-213 Retrieved from http://resolver.scholarsportal.info/resolve/00027162/v583i0001/195_nataam