The Sacred Path Program:
The Sacred Hoop & Tribal Ceremonies
The White Buffalo Academy featuring the Sacred Path Program places emphasis on the spiritual, cultural, and educational development of each participant. For that reason, we have taken great care in incorporating important ceremonial practices with our entire curriculum.
The Sacred Path Program incorporates the use of the Medicine Wheel, prayer lodge, prayers, offerings, and solo quests to help youth regain balance and focus in their lives. After successful completion of the Sacred Hoop Program and a full evaluation by qualified staff, the students are ready to move to the next level.
Medicine Wheel
The Medicine wheel is used for personal reflection and for balancing the four quadrants of our being (spiritual, emotional, physical, and mental). A large circle is created on the ground and is divided into four sections. Each section has a special meaning. Healing energy from the four directions is used to help realign and reconnect oneself. Participants are taught how to set and attain goals in their lives without upsetting the balance. This process is crucial especially if the child has been fragmented from abuse or traumas that occurred either in past or present situations.
prayer lodge
The prayer lodge or "purification lodge" is utilized by most Native American cultures as a means of detoxifying the body and for spiritual refuge. It is believed to be a place of physical healing and spiritual guidance. Children that are too young will be taught about the sweat and its significance to the tribe. Others that have reached the age where participation is permitted will learn how to tend the fire as well as learn the proper protocol for the prayer lodge ceremony. Only those elders who have been given the proper authority are able to conduct a prayer lodge at the Four Winds. Male and female sweats are conducted separately.
Solo Quest
Solo quests are used as a means for meditation. The student is taken to a designated area free of any distractions. There they are given a pad and paper and asked to write anything that they can remember that has affected their life in some way whether it is positive or negative. Solo quests are an excellent opportunity to help students focus and understand what it is to be still.
Prayers and Offerings
Prayers and offerings are an important part of the inventory and learning process. It teaches participants how to materialize and release personal information gathered by individuals as well as establishing the concept of "givers gain". In the native culture when a person visits an elder they are suppose to bring a gift as a sign of respect and appreciation for the wisdom that elder shares with you. We teach the same practice when addressing the Creator with our needs and wants.
A Ceremony for the release of burdens is done when the child feels ready to move on from things that have transpired in their lives. This is a very healthy experience that allows the youth to progress naturally.
Fire Circle
Fire is sacred to the native people. It is said that any man who speaks around the fire must speak the truth or the fire will reveal the lie by changing colors. We use the fire circle as a means of social enjoyment and as a form of group therapy. Time spent around the fire is usually a very spiritual experience and it allows students to feel that they are not alone.
Again, we invite any elder who wishes to participate in traditional ceremonies to feel welcome to do so. Tribal traditions and ceremonies practiced by individual tribes will be honored. Any specific ceremony that needs to be performed may be done so by an appointed tribal elder and may be done so at the discretion of the tribe.
