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Archiver > Melungeon > 2001-02 > 0981097670


From:
Subject: [Melungeon] Re: Melungeon-D Digest V01 #103
Date: Fri, 2 Feb 2001 02:07:50 EST


Tabitha,was piute a hallucinogenic? Was it made of some sort of grass or
leaf? Is it still used for ceremonies?
I will tell you a cutie if you won't get angy. I still think that it was
funny. My daughter was having a baby and the father and I were both in the
labor room. Erin smoked through her pregnancy (Not my fault, I told her not
to) but as the pains were getting esculated,after several hours, she wanted a
cigarette BAD. (When my Erin is in labor and wants something, she better get
it, she asked her husband for something with the first baby, he didn't move
fast enough, she had a contraction while holding his hand and broke his
finger). Anyway, I told her that I had an idea,jsut go along with whatever I
said. I had a jacket that I had brought with me. It had sort of an Indian
design on it. When a nurse came in to check her I picked it up and looked
over and asked Erin if we should start the ceremony yet. There was a name
for the ceremony, it is a legitimate one, but I had just read about it, but I
am sleepy now and can't remember it. Will try to recall tomorrow. Anyway
the nurse asked me what it was. I said that we were Hopi Indians and it was
a rite that we had to do according to our religion, and it had to be
done."Erin has to smoke the sacred tobacco(Imade this up). But you can't do
that here, we are a no smoking premises, she said. Are you denying her a
religious freedom ? Well, I guess I had better call someone else, she said.
I told her "whatever it takes."
Shortly there after she came with security. I had to "explain" our
"rite"to him. Well,he says,just what do you smoke ? I thought very quick
and answered back, well on the reservation we use piute,but away from it any
tobacco will do. He just kind of stared at me for a moment, shook his head
and said,"well,I guess we could get a wheel chair and you guys and the nurse
could go outside while you do "By the time all this had transpire my daughter
was in very hard labor and was not interested in a cigarette at all. But
after the little guy was born, they brought some sort of papers in the room,
and Erin read them..In the space for religion, they had written,"Hopi
Indian". Does this mean that I am a good actress and learned from that
book,or that they were pretty niave?
Please don't take any offense. It was not meant in any and it was not done
in disrespect to the Indian, but it was the only thing that I could think of
doing, and the funny thing is, it would have worked! They believed every
word, down to my ceremonial robe!
Judy.

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