Native American Encyclopedia Massasoit To Pamunkey

Native American Encyclopedia Massasoit To Pamunkey — page 7
8 medicine bundles Shamans use the power contained in a medicine bag to heal or bring good fortune to the tribe Medicine bundles hold things like animal parts tobacco seeds rocks or arrows Usually wrapped in leather or cloth traditional peoples believe bundles protect the wearer from harm or bring luck A dream might tell what items to put in the bundle or bag Shamans care for tribal medicine bundles too Tribal medicine bundles often include sacred pipes Plains Indians like the Cheyenne Mandan and Algonquian tribes use medicine bundles Medicine Creek Treaty of 1854 put into writing an agreement between Governor Isaac Stevens of Washington Territory and area tribes including the Nisqually Puyallup and Squaxin Island tribes The tribes agreed to give up nearly all of their lands in exchange for cash reservation lands and permanent permission to use their traditional hunting and fishing areas The treaty did not settle matters completely however and scattered fighting continued over the next few years Medicine dance rituals performed by medicine men or healers tried to capture supernatural help for the tribe or a person in the tribe Apache medicine dances could take several days and involved a time of preparation drumming symbolic costumes like animals and the participation of the entire tribe The Nez Perce built a longhouse each winter just for dancing Medicine dances are still practiced today