Ceremony:


All of our ceremonies take place in a circle. The circle reflects the pathway of the sun and the movement of the 'All Power". Our doorways face south, the pathway to the spirit world. In a circle there is a powerful life-force that is with us. The drum is at the centre. The sound moves in a circle and touches everyone there and beyond. The singers make the second circle. Their voice moves in a circular a motion. The dancers dance in the third circle following the pathway of the sun. The observers, the prayer people, the ones who bring offerings of tobacco, are the fourth circle. The drum, the song, the dance are for the people that pray in this fourth circle. The circle beyond the ceremony includes the people that are being prayed for, that the drum and the song reaches them and brings them strength and healing. The ancestors or spirits that here our prayer are the sixth circle. As we pray they take our prayers on to the Creator.

The Circle:

The circle is a powerful force within First Nations cultures. It is the belief of many First Nations people that the life force of all existence moves in a circle. The circular pattern moves through all things and is a reflection of the interrelatedness of all things. All life is affected by other life and everything lives 'in relationship' to one another. The circle represents wholeness and continuity. When elders teach young children, the Childs first teaching begins in Nature where the circle becomes evident in natural surroundings. The children learn they are a part of the circle. There is a cycle of life, the cycles of the seasons, the cycles of the planetary movement, and the cycles in learning and thought, the growth of a tree, the whirl of the wind or the journey of the salmon. All things move in this circular way and become part the cycle of life from birth to new life. Knowing all life follows this circular pattern, all ceremony takes place in a circle.

Black Elk-the Sacred Hoop of Life

The Sunset:

Then I was standing on the highest mountain of them all, and round about beneath me was the whole hoop of the world. And while I stood there I saw more than I can tell and I understood more than I saw; for I was seeing in a sacred manner the shapes of all things in the spirit, and the shape of all shapes as they must live together like one being.

And I say the sacred hoop of my people was one of the many hoops that made one circle, wide as daylight and as starlight, and in the center grew one mighty flowering tree to shelter all the children of one mother and one father. And I saw that it was holy...

But anywhere is the center of the world. (Black Elk)

( http://www.centralischool.com )

Sharing Circle:

The sharing circle has been used in counseling practice for healing circles. When sacred plants are used as smudge, ceremony and prayer bless the healing journey. All ceremonies of First Nations people take place in a circle. The sharing circle can be used in the classroom to provide the students the opportunity to share their stories. The circle allows students to come together and share with one and other.

The sharing circle can be used in the classroom to motivate discussion. The students meet in a large circular formation and everyone would have the opportunity to speak. The Sharing Circle or Talking Circle encourages respect, enhances self-concept, and nurtures a sense of belonging. Ground rules need to be established such as there can be no right or wrong answer. The purpose of a Sharing Circle is to promote respect for the opinions and ideas of others. An eagle feather or a stone may be passed around from person to person. The person holding the stone is the only one to speak at that time. This allows everyone the opportunity to share. The same technique can be used to discuss issues in the classroom allowing everyone a chance to share their ideas. The Sharing Circle utilized in a classroom setting can be used to introduce a new topic or to discuss a controversial issue.

In a circle there is no beginning or no end. The students are neither first nor last. If they seat themselves in a perfect circle every one can see each other. The circle places every one as equal. It also makes students feel a part of something special. To create a good sense of belonging, the circle is a good place to begin.