A smudge blessing is offered at the door before our opening prayer (weather permitting).

We begin the evening celebrating creation through singing and drumming.

Our Sundance Medicine Wheel lesson follows the teachings of Roy Wilson (Bear Who Talks Much).

For more information contact: Dave Tregoning (Skookum Orca) at 253-854-9747.

Wolf Clan

Drawing from Roy's vision, teachings, books, workshops, lectures, and the guidance of our Creator, we present a hands-on teaching, believing that the Creator is present in everyone. Through open forum, we are given the opportunity to express the Spirit that dwells within. Through ancient teachings, we learn the importance of respect for all of creation. Through our elders and teachers, we learn to understand ourselves better and how to interact with other people, to include the spirit's of animals, plants, and minerals, as well as the elements of earth, water, air, and fire. We look to the Sundance Medicine Wheel, stories of the long ago time, and the sacred ceremonies like the sweat lodge, pipe; calling of the spirit, potlatching, smudging ceremony, spirit naming, and the vision quest, to help us understand who we are, what our true purpose is in life, and how we fit into Creator's plan. Through these teachings, we can learn how to listen to that intuitive voice (Creator) without the filter of ego (self).

Smudging

We smudge at the beginning of meetings to center ourselves. When participating in this ceremony, it is helpful to empty your mind of negative thought by simply acknowledging its presence, sending it out of your mind and body, and allowing it to ride on the smoke to the Creator for cleansing. During the smudge ceremony, we are respectful of ourselves and others by being quiet, mindful that we are participating in a sacred ceremony.

Sing and Drumming

We sing to honor the Creator, playing our drums and rattles and raising our voices in song, we call to the Creator to be present in our lives.

Sweat Lodge Ceremony

The sweat lodge ceremony is a sacred healing ceremony. It is performed on the Earth Mother inside a lodge made of bent willows covered with blankets, and heated with stones placed in the center. The lodge represents the womb of the Earth Mother. All behavior surrounding the lodge is conducted in a sacred way. The ceremony may only be led or performed by those who have been trained in how to pour a sweat. Each lodge sets its own tradition. During an open sweat, anyone may attend. If you feel a need for a special sweat, you may contact the person to whom Spirit has entrusted the lodge.

Vision Quest

Anyone may go on a vision quest. This ceremony involves a great deal of sacrifice. You will be placed alone on the mountain (in the woods) with no tent, two gallons of water, a sleeping bag, and clothing. You will fast for four days and four nights. To be positive in your commitment, it is recommended that you take one to two years to study the Wheel and the ancient teachings, and practice fasting for four daytime periods.

Spirit Names

It is our custom in the Medicine Wheel Tribe to receive spirit names through those to whom Grandfather Bear has granted this privilege. Generally, this is done at the clan where you regularly attend. After you have attended your clan meetings for a period of time, Spirit may reveal, your spirit name.

This may happen soon after you attend a clan or many weeks or months later. Allow Spirit to determine when the time is right for your spirit name.

Potlatch

The potlatch ceremony teaches us to give from our hearts. It is customary to potlatch (give a gift) to everyone present when we receive a spirit name, dedicate a child, get married, mourn the passing of a loved one, or receive an honor or a title. It is also customary to potlatch the person from whom we ask a special request, whether it is to perform a special ceremony, receive teachings, or in any way ask to have Spirit look upon us.

Sundance Medicine Wheel

The Sundance Medicine Wheel, envisioned by Roy Wilson, consists of 36 stones that represent creation and the sacred wheel of life.

The Medicine Wheel consists of a center stone representing our Creator. Around the center stone are seven stones representing messengers of the Creator. There are four stones in each of the four directions, with the outer stone being the gatekeeper in each direction. The remaining 12 stones in the outer wheel represent our personal attributes that we brought into this lifetime at birth.

Studying the Medicine Wheel stones helps us to become more aware of the whole of creation by learning the teachings of each stone.

The totems (stones) of the Sundance Medicine Wheel, help us to better understand life and how to interact not only with the two legged (humans) but also with the four legged (animals), the winged (birds), the crawlers (insects), the standing nation (trees and plants), the stone nation (rocks and minerals), the water nation, the thunder nation. Mother Earth, Father Sky, Grandmother Moon, Grandfather Sun, all of which is The Great Mystery (Creator God), who, through breath (the word), placed the Spirit (essence of God) into everything, giving life to all of creation.