Mohawk Tribe Inpatient Residents from the Akwesasne Reservation Perform Self Directed Spiritual Renewal Each Morning at Sunrise
St. Joseph's Inpatient residents, who are also members of the Akwesasne community, gather each morning at sunrise for spiritual renewal through the use of prayer, song, and tangible elements of sage, an abalone shell, and an eagle feather.
Residents and staff fortunate enough to be near the patio at our Inpatient facility early each morning at sunrise might hear Dallas C., Chadwick S., and Jerome M., members of the Mohawk tribe from the Akwesasne Reservation, performing a deeply meaningful ceremony.
Smudging, which is a celebration of spiritual purification and thanks, uses the smoke from sage burned in an abalone shell and spread with an eagle feather. The ritual of renewal has been performed by members of the Mohawk tribe for centuries.
Chadwick, who is nearing completion of his 90-day program, and Dallas, who has been here for two months, share, “We give thanks and purify ourselves through blowing the sage smoke on us, head to toe, and then we say our morning prayers. We give thanks to people and ask that we all put our minds together as one. Then we pray to the thunders, stars, water, food, plants, sunrise, turtle, fish, animals, trees, food, tobacco, ceremonies, medicine, grandfather, ceremonies, and finally the Creator.”
The process of saging not only purifies but encourages positive emotions and leaves one with a calm feeling.
“People also use smudging to purify their homes. We’d like to sage the entire building here,” Chadwick smiles. Dallas says, “We do this daily outside since we’ve been in rehab, and this keeps us going. It keeps us in touch with our Higher Spirit, the Creator.”
Chadwick, who learned the ceremony from generational teaching, continues, “It opens up our minds to think clearly. After we do the opening prayers, I’ll put some tobacco on top of the sage, and we say our personal prayers for our families for strength, wisdom, and positive direction. I also pray for everyone here, the residents and the staff and all of those we’re getting to know as friends."
By praying to our Higher Power, we keep our minds positive which helps us in our work here,” says Dallas.
The ceremony ends with the singing of the Friendship Song (below), which Chadwick and Dallas have graciously sung for all in our community to enjoy.
I appreciate the willingness of Chadwick and Dallas to share and enlighten other residents and staff about a spiritual and cultural tradition that has had a long presence in the North Country.