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I n T h i s I s s u e

Featured Article
Indian Medicine..............................1

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January 2009 Programs & Hikes...........................4
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Bulletin Board................................8

INDIAN and lightning. While medicine varied while another opted for buffalo horns.
from tribe to tribe, there were also The strength, skill and wisdom of an
MEDICINE common threads. animal could enter the Indian, giving
Medicine was tightly bound to the him special prowess. If a shield with
Indian reverence for the natural unity symbols to protect him failed, the
. . . For the American Indian, “medicine” was of things. The earth, water, sky, the Indian did not blame the spirits; he
a special world that pervaded everyday life. wolf and buffalo, fire, wood, the Indian must have done something wrong.
himself . . . all were part of a oneness. Visions had a special significance,
by Chuck Kleber Tangible forms might include a richly and Indians would go to great lengths
decorated medicine pipe, a bundle to achieve one. If that meant going into
he American Indian looked of assorted sticks, perhaps wrapped the wilderness alone for several days
upon “medicine” as a dynamic in some hide with symbols on it to without food while meditating, it was
Tpresence that went far beyond ward off evil spirits. The Navajos, worth it in the hope of a good vision.
the white man’s narrow definition. If it came, then there was the matter
There were medicine men, charms of interpretation, since many powers
and symbols, signs and omens, good and symbols had to be considered.
luck and bad luck, medical treatment The spirit of the moon signified long
marked by significant success . . . and life and the owl was his helper. The
more. If it can be put in one word, earth reigned over the trees. The sun
medicine was “power,” and thus it is was most powerful and the eagle
difficult to put the concept into specific his helper. If a brave saw a bear in
categories. It might be manifested in his vision, then it meant there was a
different ways and found in nature, special affinity. A bear claw necklace
man-made, related to a mysterious would give strength and protection.
Great Spirit or a combination. It could But if he saw the bear during a storm,
be in a dream, a vision, a dance, an act or what did that mean? There was an
a song . . . it was everywhere. Under- aura of mystery surrounding it all.
standably, Indians sought such power. The Big Horn Medicine Wheel in
A repeating rifle could be called big northern Wyoming is a particularly
medicine. Interestingly, even the fascinating mystery. Discovered by a
white mountain men were drawn to Crow hunting party, its origins are not
many Indian beliefs, associating hot known, but it is likely to have been
springs in the Rocky Mountains with for example, believed that evil spirits built 300 or more years ago. Eighty
spirit power. A Sioux would pray to lurked in Monument Valley. To travel feet across and with 28 rows of stones
Wakan-Tanka, the “Great Mystery,” there, it was wise to carry a special emanating from a central cairn, it
and give thanks for showing him the charm for protection. Medicine was
sacred path in life. There was also fear. commonly a very individual thing;
The plains Indians dreaded thunder one brave might prefer eagle feathers Indian Medicine, cont’d on p. 6