Where tobacco came from and how its use is important to the Anishnawbe culture. Hopefully this little story will shed some light on what is traditional.
Long ago there was a group of young men who went out to fast for a vision; these young men were about the age of puberty. The average fast was two weeks, without food or water. In some places they fasted in trees, mostly because there were no hills.
Anyway, all the young men received a vision to guide them in their lives. Only one young man never received a vision. So he went back and fasted again, and still no vision. He fasted every year until he was an old man with long white hair, seeking a vision. Then the great mysteries of mysteries appeared and talked to him. The great mysteries of mysteries said, "I've been watching you all these years and you have been loyal to the ways I have given the Anishnawbe. For your loyalty I'm going to take you with me, but before I do I want you to go back to your village and talk to the medicine people and give them instructions."
The old man did as he was instructed and told the spiritual people that he was going to leave and that he should be buried in a small shallow grave. Further instructions were that only the warriors should watch over the grave and no women on their moon time would be allowed to come near. The warriors watched over the grave and a small plant started to grow. The plant got bigger and bigger, until it grew as tall as a man, with yellow flowers on it. They called it nin-sama or Indian tobacco.
It is said that the old man gave up his life to become the tobacco plant for the good of the Anishnawbe. When killing a deer or any other animal, tobacco was put down in respect for who feeds us. Tobacco was used too when picking plant's for medicines and/or food. Tobacco was used as taking the plant's life and power. Tobacco has been a trade a life for a life. Tobacco was used to pray by smoking it or putting it into a fire. The smoke is said to carry up the thoughts and feelings to the great mysteries of mysteries.
Having your own tobacco is spiritual responsibili; no one prays for you. This brings up the issue of having a fire at funerals. There is not supposed to be a bowl of tobacco set out for people who come. People are supposed to bring their own tobacco. When a bowl of tobacco is set out and people take it and put it in a fire, they are actually praying for someone else. If you have a special prayer that you want to send, have your own tobacco and use it. A bowl of tobacco set out at a funeral should not be a training session for those who are ignorant of culture.
Keeping the fire
If someone passes on that may not have followed the Indian ways, let them go in the ways they followed. Unless the family has requested by tobacco to have a fire and pipe carriers. Notably, on Bay Mills, there is a rush to have a fire without a request or knowing what the fire is all about. This is not traditional. Although honorable young men often volunteer to watch and keep the fire, what are they watching for? The fire is generally made from flint - that is an Indian fire. No curse words or turning your back on the fire to warm up is acceptable. Elders say it is like turning your back on your grandpa. Since the fire is made from flint the fire is considered to be pure. It is the job of those who watch the fire to keep it pure. That means no women on their moon time can go to the fire. Also, homosexuals were not allowed at the fire as they were referred to as backwards people (Ebaud-dad-Zaa). Tobacco and food are put into the fire for the one traveling to the next stop. (According to our tradition, there are four stops on the way.) And no "Amens!" If you're going to have an Indian fire at a funeral, there are no priests or others. It only confuses the direction for those who may need instructions to follow the journey of their ancestors. In short, keep that pure too.
This information is over 30 years of gathering information and traveling all around the United States visiting other tribes.
Art LeBlanc is an elder in the Bay Mills Indian Community.
