MEDICINE MEN HAVE LEARNED THEIR STORIES BY DREAMING AND BEING TAUGHT BY SPIRITS. SOME ARIZONA AND CALIFORNIA SHAMANS BELIEVE THAT THEY EXPERIENCE CREATION THROUGH THEIR DREAMS. SOME QUECHAN MEN REPORTED THAT HE WAS PRESENT FROM THE BEGINNING AND SAW AND HEARD IT ALL. HE DREAMED THE CREATION STORY AND LEARNED IT FIRST HAND. THE ORIGIN STORY TOOK FOUR NIGHTS TO TELL.
IN PERU THE QUECHAN MEDICINE MEN LEARNED OF HIS DESTINY BY DREAM TRAVEL. BEFORE HIS BIRTH HE WOULD SOMETIMES STEAL OUT OF HIS MOM'S WOMB WHILE SHE WAS SLEEPING. AND HE WOULD TRAVEL TO A SACRED MOUNTAIN NOT FAR FROM THE PRESENT DAY NEEDLES, CA.
THE QUECHANS BELIEVED THAT THEIR MEDICINE MEN COULD SUCK OUT SICKNESS. THE EUROPEANS BROUGHT MANY SICKNESSES THAT THE INDIANS COULD NOT CURE.
INDIAN DOCTORS HAD SPECIAL POWERS TO LOCATE, DIAGNOSE, AND TO REMOVE ILLNESSES. THEY ORGANIZED THE POWER THROUGH THE SONGS, STORIES, PAINTINGS AND RITUAL ACTS.
THE NAVAJO ENJOY A RICH HISTORY OF CULTURE AND MEDICINE. NAVAJO CEREMONY REVOLVES AROUND MAKING A PERSON IN HARMONY AND WHOLE. THE CAUSE OF ILLNESS IS OFTEN THE VIOLATION OF TRIBAL LAWS OR CODES. THE NAVAJO DO NOT TOUCH OBJECTS STRUCK BY LIGHTENING.
KINDLE'S PARENTS HIRED A MEDICINE MAN TO CONDUCT A LIGHTENING WAY CEREMONY TO REMOVE
LIGHTENING, POWER, AND CURE THE SORE. NAVAJOS USE PLANT MEDICINE TO MAKE MEDICINAL TEAS AND DIRECT APPLICATIONS TO HEAL. MANY INDIANS IN ARIZONA AND MEXICO MAKE A TEA FROM CREOSOTE BUSH TO HEAL SORE THROATS AND SKIN IRRITATIONS, EASTERN WOODLAND INDIANS USE SASSAFRAS TREE ROOTS TO CURE COLDS AND STOMACH ILLNESSES.
GERALD MCMASTER AND CLIFFORD TREFNER
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