Face Painting

 *Eddie James Bad Eagle

Yesterday, my traditional brother’s families’ bundle will be open.  There will be much ceremony and part of this will be face painting.  I will share a bit of what I know, and what is right, of this part of the ceremony.

In this case, face painting will be done, for the family and those traditionally connected, for healing.  It will also empower them to be strong and to follow the ways their loved one taught them.  The designs will be those that they prayed on, perhaps dreamed of, and those passed down through the family bundle.  There will be ceremonial songs sung and prayers given and smudge burned during the painting.  It is very ceremonial.  The painted designs will vary from tribe to tribe, from family clans to family clans.  Colors will vary and places the faces are painted will, also, vary, but be very sacred in that all face-painted is a very sacred ceremony.

In the bundles, will be colors of paint already ground and ready but they may have gone out and gathered and prepared more.  The paint is gathered from animal, vegetable, minerals that are traditionally used.  We happen to live, and they still live, in an area where Red Paint is ground for the Red Rock of the nearby Rocky Mountains.  White and yellow is found in the river stones and blue may come from the mud from that area.  Charred wood and black soil make the black colors.  Brown paint could be made with ashes and red and yellow grounds.  To apply to colors and designs, bear fat, tallow, or water was used to mix the ground powders of color. During all the preparation, prayers are said, songs are sung and those prayers were placed on the one being painted.  It is very very sacred.  It is very moving.  

This painting was a commission for a Cree woman who was part of the sixties scoop.  She is so hurt and she may not ever get past that hurt.  She is so dear, and calls me mumma. 

©Carol Desjarlais 6.21.20