| When discussing Native American healing,
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| | American tradition, making medicine is a
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| one must first get a basic understanding
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| | process for achieving a variety of
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| about the practitioners of its art and
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| | positive outcomes: a good hunt, plentiful
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| the understanding needed by patients.
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| | crops, connecting with someone, healing
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| Most tribal people have one or more types
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| | someone, a successful birthing, and so
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| of healthcare specialists that frequently
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| | on. Medicine is the way people keep their
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| overlap. Some Native healers use herbs,
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| | balance; it provides them with the
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| some heal with songs, and some with
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| | opportunity to grow in new and healthier
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| spiritual rituals. A midwife or a
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| | ways.
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| medicine woman or man might focus on
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| | Native Americans believe in a singular
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| natural medicines such as herbs and
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| | living God, but also believe that same
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| hands-on techniques but also use prayer
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| | God may be contacted in many different
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| and ceremony. Shamans or holy people
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| | ways. In Native languages, God is given
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| emphasize spiritual healing but are often
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| | such names as Great Spirit, Creator,
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| also knowledgeable about natural
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| | Great Being, Great Mystery, Above Being,
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| medicines. Kahunas are people, usually of
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| | The One Who Oversees All Things, and He
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| Hawaiian ancestry, who have developed a
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| | Who Gives Life. The missionaries
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| level of spirituality that joins them
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| | mistakenly thought that Native American
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| with many of the spirit powers allowing
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| | people worshiped trees, eagles, the Pipe,
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| direct communication about the healing
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| | and many other things. What was
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| process.
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| | misinterpreted was the use of these
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| To learn, people must be open to the
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| | objects as gifts from the Creator, put
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| ancient wisdom and understand it in the
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| | here to help and to serve as conduits to
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| context of the entire Native American
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| | greater understanding of the Creator's
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| experience. It is not something to be
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| | ways. Using these gifts is one way to
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| trivialized by simply purchasing medicine
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| | create an atmosphere conducive to
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| objects and trying them out at home. As
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| | addressing the Creator.
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| one Sioux leader said, "First they took
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| | Gratitude is a central aspect of Native
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| our land, now they want our pipes ... all
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| | American culture. Every day is a
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| the wannabees, these New Agers, come with
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| | spiritual, sacred day. One morning
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| their crystals and want to buy a medicine
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| | prayer, for example, is, "I thank You for
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| bag to carry them around in. If you want
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| | another day. I ask that You give me the
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| to learn our ways, come walk the red road
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| | strength to walk worthily this day so
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| with us, but be silent and listen."
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| | that when I lie down at night I will not
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| The Spiritual Foundation of Native
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| | be ashamed." Thanks are given to the
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| American Medicine
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| | Great Power who makes all things
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| Spirituality and medicine are inseparable
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| | possible. People give thanks, not only
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| in Native American tradition. Essentially
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| | for the good events but also for the bad
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| no distinction is made between religious
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| | things that happen throughout the day,
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| and medical practices. "Making medicine"
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| | because they believe that the more they
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| is an important part of traditional life.
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| | show their appreciation, the more
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| It is how people give thanks to the
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| | blessings they will receive.
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| Spirit who helps, guides, nourishes, and
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| | Whether a practioner or patient, one
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| clothes them. Medicine is the constant
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| | needs a firm conscience to understanding
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| pipeline to the Creator. In Native
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| | of this wonderful type of healing.
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