It was a still evening in the backyard when all of a sudden there was a thud sound coming from the sweat lodge as it collapsed due to snowfall on the roof, during the years of its life, the lodge has been a sanctuary place for the people of Cedar River First Nations. When finding out about the collapse of the Cedar River First Nations reflected on how they mistreated the sweatlodge and prayed for forgiveness. They also saw something good that came out of the sweat lodge collapsing, they saw that this was a moment of humanity and how the creator reminded them of this.
Not only that but Robinson’s medicine man had said that this event was also a memorial for “our sacrifices and our commitments, it reminds us of the people we love and the journey for, that took their journey to the spirit world.” Robinson was not present during the collapse but danced in the same area. This event affected his spiritual family because they needed to realize their part in not taking care of the roof.
Robinson, a junior, has been exposed to the Sun Dance ritual since he was 7. Robinson’s dad has been a big part in introducing him to the Lakota Sioux traditions. The Sun Dance ritual works when the male dancers undergo a spiritual and physical test. The dancer’s chest is pierced with wooden skewers with harnesses attached to a rope that then connects to the Sun Dance tree. The sun dancer will dance around the tree and lean back to let the wooden skewers pull on their flesh. This ritual’s symbolism is being one with Mother Nature, by having the dancer’s physical flesh attached to the tree.
Robinson and the fellow members of the Cedar River First Nations had two weeks to take care of the property before performing in the Sun Dance, and then he was out there for four days. During the preparation, they consumed dried choke cherries, grains, and dried aged meat. After this, they put the buffalo heart into the ground for the past spirits, and have a moment of prayer to begin the Sun Dance.
On the third day Robinson’s dad and his spiritual family were all there witnessing this big moment, Robinson’s dad was very proud of him. Robinson wore a green Sun Dance skirt during this ceremony and was left with two piercings on each side of his chest. When Robinson completed this ritual last year, he said he finally felt more connected to his religion than the years before.
“Prayer helps me during rough times,” said Robinson. Whenever Robinson felt doubt about the hardships he faced, he would look towards prayer over his life to overcome that pain. Robinson said that his dad had also experienced pain from the effects of not participating in the sweats, which quickly led to him getting sick physically, Robinson also mentioned that during the Sun Dance, his spiritual aunt had passed out due to being connected to the spirit world. Robinson said that his aunt visited their past group members.
Robinson’s connection to the spiritual world has gotten stronger with this Sun Dance experience, but also the connection to his culture and how being a member of the Lakota Sioux bloodline gives him uniqueness.
