Northern Cheyenne spiritual leaders conduct Cloth Ceremony

The cloth ceremony is to wipe away anything negative and to cover them with protection. (Photo courtesy Diane Spotted Elk)

As discussed in previous Native Sun News Today articles, the Northern Cheyenne Reservation has experienced an extremely high rate of death, including many younger people and too many elders. In such a small tight-knit community each death has a ripple effect.

Even the ministers and pastors who handle final services are reeling. “It has been very difficult for the entire reservation,” commented Deacon Joe, who has served the Blessed Sacrament Church, Lame Deer for many decades.

In addition to Christian burials and ceremony, the Northern Cheyenne have healing ceremonies to help ease the grief of those who have lost loved ones. A principal method is the “Cloth Ceremony.”

This involves smudging with sacred cedar smoke and “wiping” a person down (removing sadness and grief) with prayer clothes of the four Cheyenne sacred colors: red, black, yellow and white, which each have symbolic meaning. While various Warrior Societies conduct the ceremony in slightly different ways, the meaning is the same throughout – healing and prayer.

On Friday, May 30, a group of Northern Cheyenne ceremonial men conducted a “Cloth Ceremony” at the Kenneth Beartusk Memorial Pow Wow grounds. This effort was supported at the grassroots level by four key individuals: President Gene Small who arranged for the donation of a tribal buffalo for the feast; Nolan Limberhand; Diane Spotted Elk of the Boys’ & Girls’ Club of the Northern Cheyenne Nation which provided a meal; and Gene Mass.

Over one hundred tribal members attended to receive such blessing, including Tribal President Gene Small, who humbly stood in line to be blessed.

The ceremonial men included: Vice-President Ernest Little Mouth; Allen Jo Blackwolf, grandson of the Sacred Hat Keeper and former Sacred Hat Keeper himself; and Wallace Bearchum, all acknowledged ceremonial leaders who have completed their SunDance vows

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