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To
many of the southeastern woodland Natives, fire was symbolic of the
Great Spirit and the sun. The sun was "the fire in the
heavens looking down". The sacred fire, tended by the Fire
Keeper, was the center of ceremony and represented the "Great
One", "Unequah", Wakan Tanka, Gitchi Manitu, Grandfather,
The Great Mystery. Tobacco was often offered to the fire along
with prayers.
The
Fire Keeper, sometimes called the Fire Maker, often had up to 7
assistants to keep the fire "living" during several days of
ceremony.
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Rick
Runningbear in Fire Keeper's regalia
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The kneeling pad is used when the
fire keeper kneels down to arrange the sacred woods, put in
thistle down mingled with dry pine needles, and casts a spark
into the tinder using flint and steel to ignite the ceremonial
fire.
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Ceremonial fire sites are variable, some are on the ground,
others are elevated upon a mounded alter.
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The Fire Keeper's staff is always
near him as he attends to the sacred fire. It is used to
keep the burning woods in the proper position and alignment.
The stool is for the Fire Keeper to sit on as he sits near to
and watching the fire.
The rattle is used for ceremonial chants by the fire keeper.
The ash gourd contains ashes from previous and ancient sacred
fires. Some of these ashes are added to each new sacred
fire to add power to it. Also, after each fire has gone
out, some of its ashes are returned to the ash gourd.
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