So I am not first nations, but here in Canada, First nations is a big deal and I feel that your average non-first nations Canadian is so ignorant about this culture and for me in the job i'm going into, I will be dealing with First nations on a very regular basis so I'd like to broaden my knowledge of this very important part of Canada. I hope none of that sounds bad or anything, it's not my intention at all, I have total respect for all of our first nations Canadians.

Anyways, despite not being first nations, I may have the opportunity to part-take in a sweat lodge. It's really important to me that I participate in at least one before graduating, but there's a problem, as part of tradition, the men sit in nothing but a type of brief short, no shirt. My problem, or at least the main problem is my scars.... I understand that the lodge is a safe place, free from criticisms, and that chances are no one will actually be able to understand what the scars are from, but i'm terrified of outing myself.... My other, lesser concern (and this may be silly) but it's about changing into the briefs, will I be expected to do it in front of the other men? Will there be like a bathroom I could change in....? Obviously I don't have the equipment.... I want to keep myself safe.

For my scars, I was thinking maybe I could cover them up with some makeup, but will I sweat it off? I wonder if there is like super anti-sweat/smear makeup I could use....

I'm mostly posting for a) suggestions and b) if anyone has experiences with sweat lodges, could you maybe provide me some information? Obviously I couldn't raise these worries to the First Nations counselor at my school (I am not out at school, everyone thinks I'm cis-male and thats 100% the way I want it right now).

Anything you can offer would be great, thanks guys,

Cheers,
Seb

If you will be allowed to wear briefs you can just put a packer inside.
As for scars, I don't think people would care that much. I have never been to such event, but there was a time that one of my classmates pulled up my shirt in front of the whole class and nobody questioned anything.

With a lifetime of Native connections and an old veteran of the Sweat Lodge, I can say with certainty that nobody who matters is likely to notice anything and  anyone who says anything is likely to be put in their place by the elder.

Inipi (or Sweat Lodge) is a Sacred Ceremony and respect is of the utmost in Traditional circles.

Of course you could  run into a bunch of new-age-wannabees and then nothing is Sacred.

If you are concerned, speak to the Elder before the ceremony. No need to be bashful - REAL Elders totally understand and are accepting.

Quote from: SX0877 on February 10, 2014, 04:46:26 PM
If you will be allowed to wear briefs you can just put a packer inside.
As for scars, I don't think people would care that much. I have never been to such event, but there was a time that one of my classmates pulled up my shirt in front of the whole class and nobody questioned anything.

With the briefs, I wasn't so much worried about packing, because I pack every day, my concern was whether or not there would be like a private area to get changed or if it was a sort of locker room type scenario, because obviously, I'll need to do some adjusting if i'm changing briefs (I don't have a prosthetic, just a packer).

Edit: Sorry I should specify a bit, what I was made to understand is that they are not your briefs but you are sort of are given briefs to wear? I don't know if this is true though.... I employ Northern Jane or someone else to correct me if I'm wrong. If it's just my briefs then that's no problem!

Quote from: Northern Jane on February 10, 2014, 06:13:32 PM
With a lifetime of Native connections and an old veteran of the Sweat Lodge, I can say with certainty that nobody who matters is likely to notice anything and  anyone who says anything is likely to be put in their place by the elder.

Inipi (or Sweat Lodge) is a Sacred Ceremony and respect is of the utmost in Traditional circles.

Of course you could  run into a bunch of new-age-wannabees and then nothing is Sacred.

If you are concerned, speak to the Elder before the ceremony. No need to be bashful - REAL Elders totally understand and are accepting.

This really made me feel better, thank you for posting. This is sort of the sense I got from speaking to the counselor, that there's no judgment or anything like that, I guess im just nervous, i've never been shirtless infront of anyone but my family.

When he was explaining the process to me it was all so interested, and everything he was saying about how it's a sacred place, and a spiritual process, just you and the creator (who for me is Gaia) it just sounded amazing and like something I really need mentally, i've sort of lost touch with my spirituality over the past few years and I feel like this could do me a lot of spiritual good.

I don't know if you can answer this Northern Jane, but do you know the change room sort of situation? I mean, it's a public Inipi so I'd assume it would be like a "go to the bathroom and get changed" and not a locker room sort of situation but without knowing for sure this is also a bit stressful. I think with the low light and the sitting and the sacredness of the situation I feel a bit more comfortable about my scars. I'm going to eventually have them worked into a tattoo to conceal them but I don't plan on getting that done in the next few week lol.

Ooooh! What an incredibly awesome opportunity! I don't have any advice, however I did want to ask you to keep us updated. I would looove to know how it goes.

Quote from: Bastian on February 10, 2014, 08:51:52 PM
I don't know if you can answer this Northern Jane, but do you know the change room sort of situation? I mean, it's a public Inipi so I'd assume it would be like a "go to the bathroom and get changed" and not a locker room sort of situation but without knowing for sure this is also a bit stressful. I think with the low light and the sitting and the sacredness of the situation I feel a bit more comfortable about my scars. I'm going to eventually have them worked into a tattoo to conceal them but I don't plan on getting that done in the next few week lol.

Any Inipi I have been to is in the woods and there are no buildings of any kind. There is, at least in my part of the world, a great deal of modesty and respect so guys and girls sort of move away from the fire and change out in the open but everyone is keeping their eyes to themselves - nobody is checking out anyone else's body (at least not at any respectable Ceremony).

Guys, and even some girls, arrive with their sweat lodge clothes on under their street-wear and just remove their street clothes prior to the Ceremony. Afterwards, however, you will want to get out of your lodge clothes, towel off, and get into your street clothes. Everybody is expected to bring their own lodge clothes.

Don't forget to bring a tobacco offering and to remove any metallic jewellery prior to going into the Lodge.

(P.S. I have kept a Sacred Lodge for over 20 years and kept the Fire 10 years before that so I speak of the way things are  done here and done at Inipi that I am keeping. I can not speak for how others may conduct their lodge.)

Quote from: Northern Jane on February 12, 2014, 03:31:38 AM
Any Inipi I have been to is in the woods and there are no buildings of any kind. There is, at least in my part of the world, a great deal of modesty and respect so guys and girls sort of move away from the fire and change out in the open but everyone is keeping their eyes to themselves - nobody is checking out anyone else's body (at least not at any respectable Ceremony).

Guys, and even some girls, arrive with their sweat lodge clothes on under their street-wear and just remove their street clothes prior to the Ceremony. Afterwards, however, you will want to get out of your lodge clothes, towel off, and get into your street clothes. Everybody is expected to bring their own lodge clothes.

Don't forget to bring a tobacco offering and to remove any metallic jewellery prior to going into the Lodge.

(P.S. I have kept a Sacred Lodge for over 20 years and kept the Fire 10 years before that so I speak of the way things are  done here and done at Inipi that I am keeping. I can not speak for how others may conduct their lodge.)

Thank you again for posting! I think i've developed some strategic questions to ask my counselor to find out a little bit more. I really really want to do it, i'm feeling a bit better about my scars, so if I can just get the changing situation all sorted then i'll be totally good to go.

I was informed that, at least at this Inipi, no gifts are expected, but if you are going to bring something if should be a money donation. (It was explained to me that this gift is to cover any traveling costs the elder's might have traveling to get their tobacco) so I was just going to do that.

Unless I am compeltly wrong, Inipi is an incredibly powerful sacred ceremony of the soul. I was wondering if there is anyway I should be preparing myself in say the week leading up to it? I'd like to submerse myself as much as possible into the ceremony and really get a lot out of it.

Thank you again Northern Jane, this is all incredibly informative and helpful!

Quote from: muffinpants on February 10, 2014, 10:13:26 PM
Ooooh! What an incredibly awesome opportunity! I don't have any advice, however I did want to ask you to keep us updated. I would looove to know how it goes.

I will definitely keep you guys updated (or write up a post about the experience afterwards) so long as everything works out and I go =) I really want to, it's just about building my confidence and working out the little kinks right now.

If money is to change hands, it should be done well away from the Sweat Lodge site and preferably not anywhere near the time of the Ceremony.

Up here Traditionalists are vehemently opposed to money, finance, or any material goods changing hands in any way associated with traditional ceremonies. (I was once a part of a 'camp' that broke up when it was found one of the so-called elders was accepting money, albeit an "honorarium", from those attending the ceremonies. An incredible group of people scattered to the four winds and nobody thereafter would associate with the so-called elder.)

As preparation, think about those issues that concern you, your heart and soul. And remember, everything that is seen or heard in the Inipi is NEVER talked about outside of the Lodge to anyone under any circumstances. If the Elder is worth his/her salt, everyone will be advised of this before the Ceremony.

Huh that's good to know, it was the First Nations Counselor at my uni who said the only gifts to give to the elder would be a bit of money (if you want to give something) as a donation.

And sounds good, that was what I expected. Hopefully I can figure out some answers to some questions I have and then get over my shyness about my scars.