RITES OF PASSAGE FOR BOYS

LUISENO INDIANS

IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THE LUISENO BOYS HELD INITIATION RITUALS FOR THEIR YOUNG MEN WHO THAT LASTED SEVERAL WEEKS. THEY DRANK JIMSON WEED AND DANCED UNTIL THEY WENT TO SLEEP. THEY OFTEN GOT EXPERIENCED A GUIDED VISION. THEIR INSTRUCTION AFTER THIS WAS THAT THE HOLY MEN SHOWED THEM A SAND PAINTING AND EXPLAINED THE VARIOUS MEANINGS OF IT. THEY TAUGHT THEM THE PROPER BEHAVIOUR AND TO REMEMBER THEIR SPEECH. WHEN YOU DIE, YOU WILL BE SPOKEN OF AS THOSE OF THE SKY.

ESKIMO

BOYS ON MIWOK ISLAND WERE REQUIRED TO KILL BEARDED SEAL WHICH WAS A GREAT HUNTING FEAT. AFTER HE RETURNED HE WENT TO THE KASHIM, THE CEREMONIAL LODGE FOR MALES. HE SANG A HUNTING SONG AND THE SEAL'S MEET WAS GIVEN TO THE ELDERS. AND THE SKIN AND BLADDER HUNG FROM THE CEILING. A BLADDER FESTIVAL WAS A CELEBRATION HELD EACH DECEMBER TO HONOR THE ANIMALS THAT WERE GIVEN UP TO FEED THEM DURING THE YEAR. THEY BELIEVED THE BLADDER KEPT ITS SOUL. ALL OF THE BLADDERS WERE RETURNED TO THE SEA.

THE BOY HAD SPECIAL TABOOS BETWEEN HIS HUNT AND THE BLADDER FESTIVAL. HE DID NOT EAT SEAL MEAT, NOR REMOVE HIS CLOTHES AT NIGHT FOR SLEEPING. HIS MOM'S BEHAVIOR WAS ALSO DIFFERENT - THEY HAD TO WEAR MITTENS OUTSIDE AND BOTH FASTED DURING THE 5 DAY BLADDER FESTIVAL. IT INCLUDED DANCING, COMIC SPEECHES. AND SONGS. ON THE FINAL NIGHT THE YOUNG MAN RAN NAKED ON THE BEACH. HIS CHILDHOOD OFFICIALLY ENDED. INDIAN WOMEN USUALLY MARRIED OLDER WOMEN.

IROQUOIS AND CHEROKEE MARRIAGE PRACTICES

MARRIAGE MARKED A MAJOR CHANGE IN LIFESTYLE. THE MEN HAD TO SEEK A WIFE OUTSIDE THEIR OWN COMMUNITY. AFTER MARRIAGE THE HUSBAND WAS OBLIGED TO LEAVE HIS FAMILY AND MOVE INTO HIS WIFE'S HOUSEHOLD. HIS POSITION WAS INFERIOR TO HIS WIFE'S BROTHER AND FATHER. THEY SPENT 1/3 OF THEIR TIME ON HUNTING/TRADING TRIPS AS A WAR PARTY MEMBER. THERE WERE ABOUT 350 PER VILLAGE. MANY TIMES THE PARENT'S DECIDED WHO THEIR CHILDREN WERE GOING TO MARRY.

CROW CUSTOMS FOR MARRIAGE INCLUDED PURSUING THE WOMEN THEY DESIRED BY SUGGESTING THEIR HELP ON BUFFALO HUNTS OR DURING A JOURNEY TO THE MOUNTAINS TO GET TIPI POLES. THEY WORKED TOGETHER AS THEY WOULD IN MARRIAGE.

THEY ALSO HAD A BERRY SCRAMBLE. THE YOUNG WOMEN AND MEN GATHERED NEAR A BERRY PATCH. EACH BOY APPROACHED THE GIRL OF HIS CHOICE. THE BOY ASKED THE GIRL PERMISSION TO CARRY HER BAG. IF SHE SAID NO HE FELT BAD, IF YES HE FELT GREAT. THE GIRLS LINED UP AND RACED TO BE THE FIRST TO CLAIM THE THICKEST BERRY PATCH. THEY BROKE OFF SEVERAL BRANCHES AND TOO THEM TO THEIR SUITORS. THEY EXCHANGED HORSES AND WENT BACK TO CAMP

VIRGINIA ALEXANDRIA