Intro to Christianity

In interview with a Cree Elder - 2003

There are many similarities between First Nations spirituality and Catholicism. First there is the wooden cross where lays the symbolic representation of Jesus Christ who gave his life that we are given eternal life. The wood for First Nations people is the tree of life. We have a relationship with the Sacred Tree. The center pole of the Sundance lodge is our tree equivalent. The Sacred Tree by which surrounds all encompassing spirituality. The church is made of wood. Our lodge is made of willows.

In Catholicism the tree helps to sustain life and spirit. In First Nations spirituality the tree of life nurtures the spirit and gives us life. We see the plants, all life as givers of life for their healing energy and their medicine. The cross and the center pole are equal in significance but diverse in spiritual expression.

The Bible is the Word of God. It is the guide for how life should be, the doctrine that steers life. The Bible equivalent for First Nations people is the prayer cloth. In it holds the sacredness of prayer and life and spirit. When the cloth becomes old and worn, it is replaced with new prayer and new spirit. When the bible is closed and the ceremony is over, our prayer cloth prays on.

The buffalo skull could be representative to the alter. For the Cree, it honours Whitecalf Buffalo Robe Woman. It recognizes who feeds us and gives us life. If it weren't for the buffalo the people would not be here. The Catholics have the church alter and the tabernacle that stores the hosts.

There is the medicine of sweetgrass, sage, cedar and tobacco. These are used to purify the heart, mind and body. These medicines can rejuvenate the spirit. Good spirits are attracted to the sweet smell of sweetgrass. The catholic faith has incense. This is burned in the church, not sure why? Don't know why they don't do it anymore either?

The pipe to the First Nations is a way of prayer. The lodge is a gathering place. The pipe, the skull, the lodge are not there to worship as separate entities. They are the instruments of prayer. Catholicism has the cup, the host, the blood and body of Christ to honour and remember.

Many parallels can be drawn to exemplify the similarities. This is our simplistic description to show those connections. For simplicities sake we will share the obvious examples rather than get bogged down by the complexity of the deeper ritual expressions.

These parallels are drawn to exemplify the compatibility. All gather in spirit, and all gather to know peace in a prayerful manner. We all have the same goal of living a prayerful, spiritual existence and becoming more in tune with the spiritual realm as life progresses and we see our connection to the Creator is not long in coming. Life teaches us and humbles us. It is through the experience of life and its struggles that we come to know God.