THE PLAINS FIRST NATIONS :

SWEAT LODGE CEREMONY

photo credit - J.Giannetta, sweat lodge at the Indian Museum of North America
A leader (the teacher) and a fire keeper (responsible for the fire, wood, stones, water and other supplies) took part in the ceremony along with other participants. The firekeeper brought heated stones into the lodge and the leader placed the stones in the pit. When the firekeeper closed the door to the lodge the inside heated up. Water was poured over the stones. The inside became very hot and steamy. There was praying, singing and drumming as well as the burning of sweet grass and smoking a pipe. The sweet grass, pipes and prayers were offerings to the spirits. At the end of the ceremony the participants would go outside and lay on the grass to cool off.





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jgiannet@hotmail.com
May 2003
updated April 2009

photo of a sweat lodge taken by J.Giannetta
at the Indian Museum of North America
Crazy Horse Memorial, Black Hills, S.D.