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UID:9@nenaawateg.ca
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250322T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250322T160000
DTSTAMP:20250325T184736Z
URL:https://nenaawateg.ca/events/waking-bear-ceremony/
SUMMARY:Waking Bear Ceremony in Pembroke
DESCRIPTION:Facilitated by Knowledge Keeper Sonny Robbins\nThe Ceremony\n
 “The Waking Bear Ceremony is held in February/March when female bears ar
 e giving birth to their cubs. The elders say that the fog we see in the mo
 rnings during this time is the first breaths of these bear cubs being born
 . Because of that\, the spirit of the bear is strong during this time and 
 is a good time to honor these spirits and ask them for healing.\n\nWhen pa
 rticipants arrive\, they are to place any sacred items they would like ble
 ssed in the centre of the facility on a blanket and take a seat in the cir
 cle. Participants may keep their pipe and/or bundle with them if they wish
  to help with the pipe ceremony and blessing of the items. After the pipe 
 ceremony is completed\, the facilitator will open the ceremony with a pray
 er and a song. Participants will then be able to give thanks and ask creat
 or and the spirits for help\, healing\, or guidance during a sharing circl
 e.\n\nOnce the sharing circle is complete\, participants will be able to o
 ffer semma to the healers to request a brush down. A brush down is a short
  ceremony where 4 healers will use eagle fans and/or cedar brushes to remo
 ve negative energy\, spirits\, and illness from your body. A song is sung\
 , and the healers will move around the individual brushing them down until
  the song is finished. This is done for each individual seeking help or he
 aling.”  — Sonny Robbins\, Knowledge Keeper\, Pikwakanagan\n\nWomen\
 , please remember to honour Mother Earth by wearing a long skirt.\nThe Fea
 st\nOnce the brush downs are complete\, we will close the ceremony and par
 ticipate in a feast. A feast plate will be made and offered to the spirits
  for helping with the ceremony.\n\nAll participants are encouraged to brin
 g a small contribution to the pot-luck &amp\; to bring their feast kit (bo
 wl or plate\, cutlery\, cup). Our Feasts are how we honour the Spirits of 
 our Ancestors and our Bundles (the tools we work with)\, rather than the a
 ll-you-can-eat buffet of Western Society.\n\nOur teachings tell us to incl
 ude meat/fish from our lands\, berries\, corn\, and wild rice -- the food 
 that grows on water that sustained our people on the migration from the Ea
 st. So bring only as much food as you can eat: we'll all share\, and hopef
 ully\, we will be able to eat it all\; whatever remains must be given to t
 he land.
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://nenaawateg.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/03
 /bear-cubs-50137_1280-e1742928372480.jpg
CATEGORIES:Ceremony,Waka Ehi Lodge
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