Firekeeper
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Firekeeper is a ceremonial role in native North American societies. They tend the fires in such ceremonies as vision quests, sweat lodges, and Sun Dances. In many native North American traditions the fire represents either the divine masculine of Great Spirit, or the spark of Great Spirit to which everyone is connected, or both. Firekeepers are, in many societies, nearly as important as the chief and medicine man. Fire was a necessary and important part of any human civilization in the past. It provided a place to keep warm, to give light at night, for protection, and to cook food and heat water. The smoke from a fire was necessary to keep away large amounts of bothersome insects. A firekeeper is necessary to literally maintain and keep a fire from going out over several days, weeks, and perhaps even longer. In the past world of no matches, no flint, and no easy ways of making fire under wet conditions, it was necessary for someone to keep the flames or red coals burning for long periods of time.
The main fire is also a place of prayers, tobacco offerings, and provides hot coals for smudges of smoldering cedar, sage, and sweet grass. A hot burning fire with plenty of red coals is needed during heavy rains, or it will potentially go out. A sacred fire is often maintained for 4 days, both day and night, and someone is needed to add more wood to ensure that the fire does not go out. The sacred fire is often separate from the cooking fire, and placed near the Sundance lodge, or sweat lodge. The wood is sometimes placed on the fire in relation to the four directions. Birch bark is often used to start the fire, along with tobacco prayers given, offerings, and thanksgiving. Food offerings and many other small ceremonies are made in relation to the fire. The fire provides a place to keep the sacred drum dry and warm, with a tight skin for better sound. The fire is a place of gathering, talking, telling stories, drying wet clothes, and for renewal. In some cases, the sacred fire is made within a rock petroform shape of a turtle, or a combination of earth mound and rocks. Rocks are commonly referred to as grandfathers in Ojibway ceremonies, and granite rocks glow red hot when heated in the fire for sweatlodges.
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