Native American Shaman: Shaman Songs of the First Nations

Native American Shaman: Shaman Songs of the First Nations

The shaman, versatile in all shapes and ways; the Native American shaman and the shaman songs of Native Americans are in essence quite similar to that of the Arctic people. Mainly the Inuit people hold the most similarities, however due to their geography the two have enough differences to distinguish between them. In North American, those Native Americans who have become shamans and practice shamanism are more commonly known, to the modern westerners, as healers, herbalists, diviners, or medicine men. Canadians refer to the Native American people of North America as the "First Nations People."

The shaman, also the "medicine man," which in western culture seemed to by quite a more limiting term due to it's holding of the word "medicine." The word "medicine" carries the connotations of only maintaining mental and physical health, whoever when referring to Native American shamans that is quite the wrong sense of the word. As in more other communities that incorporate a shaman, the shaman's tasks include much more than physical and mental health. The shaman regulates and oversees the prosperity of him or herself and the community, harmonious relationships with families within the community, and lasting friendships of the tribe's people. So, in this case, the term "medicine" encompasses a much wider concept of health in all aspects.

Becoming a Shaman of the First Nations:
There are multiple ways of acquiring the spiritual shamanic power of you are the right person for the job. The "gift" may be inherited through family bloodline, an individual might gain enlightenment on a spirit quest, and very often the case is that the spirits themselves impose the task on a person who they see fit for it. A common form of initiation for apprentice shaman would include receiving dreams and visions through which he or she undergoes life threatening fasting and intense solitude during which they must endure and battle with spirits who try to inhabit their weakened body, therefore strengthening the mind. At the end of the initiation, which can last anywhere from weeks to months, the current shaman throw a celebration ceremony during which the most passionate shaman songs are sung by one or more the remaining shaman as they pass the torch to the new brother of the spirit. The psychic struggle the shaman goes through is said to be more intense and full of hardship then living 10 lifetimes in a day, at least that is how it is described.