A few months ago, we were invited to attend a tribal gathering in Northern Wisconsin. We must be doing something right, because the elders also agreed that we could bring our cameras with us!
Many people associate this Great Lakes state with cheese, but for us this region holds far more meaning than that. The forests of Wisconsin are home to some of the earliest known indigenous civilizations in North America, some dating back to over 10,000 B.C.! Archaeologists know this from analyzing spear marks found on the bones of mastodon and mammoth remains in the region (yes, wooly mammoths! Who needs fiction when the truth is so incredible?).
Needless to say, this is sacred land. When we were invited by the elders to film some of the ceremonial practices that were being shared at this special celebration, called the Midwest Shamanic Gathering, we jumped at the opportunity.
The fact that we were allowed to document some of these time-honored ceremonies on film was a big deal, and an incredible honor for us.
One of the most striking figures we met was a man named Dan Hull, known by his Ojibwe name “Strong Hearted Bear”. Dan is known for a very particular type of healing ceremony that he performs, using a large drum and a circle of female healers. He has been hosting ceremonies like the one featured in today’s video for over 25 years and tells us that he still gets nervous before each one.
When you watch the video below, you will understand why. This sacred drum ritual is a very potent, unpredictable, and transformative practice.
Dan says that this particular style came to him in a series of dreams, during which he met with the ancestors and received a “download” on how to put this unique ceremony together. He was told that these healings were to be shared with anyone who was called to them, regardless of race or heritage.
In this video, you will see very distinct roles being played by the men and women who facilitating the ceremony. Four men in the center of the circle, pounding the drum and singing the songs while six women move around the perimeter healing individual participants with eagle feathers, rattles, and chants.
Dan says that this is a working example of the balance between masculine and feminine in the Ojibwe tradition. Legend has it that the drum was given to man by the women, who promised to always be there to support the spirit that it evoked.
A big THANK YOU to Dan and the other wisdom keepers for allowing us to film this very intimate and profound council gathering.
We will be featuring more footage from this enchanting experience in the coming weeks!
See more indigenous rituals and healing in our original film
Stay curious,
Nick Polizzi
Director, The Sacred Science
38 Responses
thank you very much for honoring me with this unique experience
Magda Tsfaty
This video brought tears of joy to my heart. Thanks for sharing.
I felt the healing energy from the drumming and the chanting. Thank you for the video.
It is practiced in India since ancient times as well.It is effective.
Thank you. I let go and I let the Spirit of Love guide my every move with profound Gratitude.
It would be nice to know the meaning of the song.
Thank you for sharing and spreading good vibrations. Watching this evoked alot of emotions but was profoundloy comforting at the same time. Made me feel like there is always hope. In gratitude 🙂
Thank you it deeply moved me….. i experienced one like this in Maine years ago… very healing.
here in Peru we use the same technique but with sacred plants… We invite you to video one our our ceremonies… Its really powerful.. Beyond the DMT Molecule theory….
Thank you for the incredible video. As someone who has been privileged enough to participate in healing drumming circles within the Native community, the space they hold is considered to be very sacred and private. You were indeed blessed to be allowed to video this scene.
Thank you
how can I share this on facebook!
I experienced a vibrating sensation moving throughout my body going from one chakra to another tuned to the drums sound. Thank you!!
very touching and inspriring… soothing as well.. Thanks
To say this resonated is putting it mildly. Would love to download for repeated listening/viewing. Any chance of that?
Some old wonderful spiritual practice! They may be working at Aura level? Thanks.
beautiful..thank you for sharing ..
Dear Nick, Thank you all that you generously share with ever so many others. The world is already a better place due to people like you. How privileged I feel to have seen the ‘Healing Ceremony’. Thanks again and I wish for you much peace, happiness and good health. Regards, Helen.
I want to go! Feel the feathers! :O)
Thanks
I would agree with your statement ” that you must be doing something right “. Having mixed blood native heritage myself, I am impressed and have been moved by your videos and special guest speakers. Keep up the good work . The world needs this information and nearly lost spiritual arts !!
An interesting short program, and sharinig it with the web readers. I play a flute Indian cassette every day, as the sounds are enchanting. I also get their latest catalog, & various paintings & other heritage items. A favorite painting I own is the Trail of Tears! Thank you again. J.L.
I really enjoyed this. I was brought to tears at one point. It felt a real connection to these people and ceremony. It was as if I belonged there or my soul recognized a sense of oneness. Thank you and thanks to the Ojibwa for sharing this experience. I was in need of a spiritual healing and I received.
Many thanks to the Ojibwe ( sorry for the error)
Beautiful, it moved me
This was great. Thank you
I have been to several pow wos’s and felt the Spirit there among the people. The use of the Eagle feathers brought to mind the verses in Isaiah 40:31 But those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like Eagles. and In Psalms 193:5 says Who (God) satisfies your mouth with good things so that your youth is renewed like the Eagles. I know from studying Eagles that they go to a special place and completely are renewed this is awesome.
THANKS!!!
Wow.
First of all I would like to congratulate you for your film and your project.
The present Worldwide Health Care System of the World sponsored by WHO is a FRAUD.
Allopathic Medicine is invasive, and only looks for the Pharmaceuticals’ interest.
Today’s doctors do not adhere to the Hippocratic bow; to look after the well-being of their patients. It is NOT in their interest to have a healthy society
As the person called to honor, preserve, and protect the ancient knowledge and rituals of the indigenous peoples of the world, I would like to know if you would be interested in participating in a project very much like the one shown in your “Sacred Science” film, the only difference been that in this occasion, it would be in Ecuador with the National Healers Association.
We are a group of “Taitas” and “Mamas” (healers) (because there are not Shamans in the Amazons) who practice Phytotherapy, Bio magnetism, Quantum Healing, Food as Medicine, nutrition, acupuncture, and other alternative ways of medicine.
We are proud to announce that we do cure many modern illnesses with our approach and our ancestral knowledge.
We believe we could start a pilot project very much like the one shown in your film.
If you are interested, please let me know, so we can arrange a meeting.
It is so encouraging to see what difference we can make, and to start once and for all the fight back against allopathic medicine.
I would like to thank you for your time and attention, and, I look forward to hearing from you.
Best regards,
Gustav
I hardly drop comments, however after reading through
a few of the comments on this page This Ojibwe Healing Ritual Will Move You
Taina here. We are under represented among the many tribal people, why is that? Inclusion is possible. We are tribal people from the Caribbean and all of the South and Central so called Americas. We are not forgotten, we are almost invisible in plan sight.
It brought tears to my heart bring harmony to me. Thank you for sharing your video.
Thank you Strong Hearted Bear, Nick, Spirit. I have saved this in my inbox and it has come to me when needed. More and more I feel and see the synchronicity in this life. In deep appreciation. -Silent Echo
Blessings and prayers for all love Yellow Hummingbird
Thank you! I was incredibly moved by this video! I plan on watching it again and again. I would love to experience this in person. How can I?
I appreciate what you are doing! Keep up your amazing work!
Thank you all for sharing your healing drum circle.
Love, light and blessings to you all!
Linda Minton
Thanks for sharing. I have always been drawn to the wisdom of indigenous people because it always speaks truth.
just wondering what the chant means