The+Grand+Medicine+Society+of+the+Ojibwa

The Grand Medicine Society, or Midewiwin, is a society created by Native American tribes to share and protect the medicinal philosophy among the Great Lakes tribes. It started as early as the 1600's as a loose organization of medical practitioners within the Ojibwa communities. Many other tribal groups adopted the idea of this society such as the Chippewa, Ottawa, and Pottawatomie. This allowed tribes to share knowledge and protect sacred traditions of the Great Lakes region. The Grand Medicine Society is not as influential today as it used to be, but is still recognized.
 * Introduction of the Grand Medicine Society**

Spiritual Healers
In the Ojibwa tribe there are various spiritual healers. There is the tcisaki, or the male diviner, the nanandawi, the tribal doctor. There is also the wabeno or the men of the sky. The men of the sky are known to manipulate fire in order to interpret dreams, guide novices, and heal the sick. There are also meda, the family healers, and finally the midewiwin, otherwise known as a shaman or medicine man.

Entering the Society
=== The midewiwin are the healers that are initiated into the grand medicine society. The society is open to both men and women of the tribe who are believed to possess special healing powers. If they are chosen to participate, they must state their willingness to the elders who ultimately determine whether or not they can become practioners within the society. Members advance by going through stages, but that is only if they have what it takes. Instruction to a higher degree of practitioning correlates to mysteries of the society, properties of rare herbs, and the nature of poisons. Also, only initiated members understand the lessons and recordings on birch bark scrolls. ===

Degrees
Each member upon initiation must state their willingness to be a part of the grand medicine society. They must also invoke the strength of the bear spirit, which is a powerful healing element. Along with being willing and invoking the spirit, each member must bring gifts to the elders for advancement. Throughout each stage, the ceremony would become more intricate with singing and dancing. One song that was sung was called the Mnemonic song. This song in particular would encourage war parties. Certain stages would have very special ceremonies. For example, the second stage included a sweat lodge and the third a juggler lounge. Also for each degree a sacred pole would be added to the ceremony. In the first degree there is one pole, in the second there are two and so on until the fourth degree. With advancement in the society each members face would be painted to show status within the group.

As a member advances in the group they acquire more knowledge and more items to heal people. Each practitioner would carry their medicine bundle which included things such as herbs and charms. One charm in particular was migiis shells, which were a symbol of the Grand Medicine Society.

As stated earlier, the Ojibwa's Grand Medicine Society was a physically and spiritually healing medicine society. One of the healing tactics that was used was created out of eight herbs by a Canadian medicine man who then shared it with the Ojibwa tribe. It was an Ojibwa medicine man who first tried this mixture of herbs that was essiac tea. It was said to cure many different illnesses, including cancerous tumors.

The Ojibwa tribe's Grand Medicine Society all together stresses the balance within one's own personal life and having respect toward the environment and other lives around. The ultimate goal is to achieve harmony within the social order.

References: 1. Henderson, Alice. "MIDEWIWIN: Secret Ojibwa Medicine Society." // Untitled //. Web. 14 Apr. 2011. . 2. Gudzune, Jeffrey R. "Midewiwin: The Grand Medicine Society." // Suite101.com: Online Magazine and Writers' Network //. 3 Feb. 2008. Web. 14 Apr. 2011. . 3. "Introduction to Grand Medicine Society." // Native American Nations //. Web. 14 Apr. 2011. . 4. Starkey, James A. "Topic Midewiwin." // Jamesastarkeyjr.com //. Web. 14 Apr. 2011. . 5. "The Ojibwa Are Credited with the Development of the Essiac Tea Formula." // Our Essiac Tea Is Personally Approved by Rene Caisse and Dr. Brusch //. Web. 14 Apr. 2011. . 6. "Eight Herb Essiac Has Been Clinically Proven to Be Effective When Taken Orally." // Our Essiac Tea Is Personally Approved by Rene Caisse and Dr. Brusch //. Web. 14 Apr. 2011. . 7. "Who Is Rene Caisse?" // Our Essiac Tea Is Personally Approved by Rene Caisse and Dr. Brusch //. Web. 14 Apr. 2011. .