Historic Native American mourning customs varied greatly from tribe to tribe, but there were some commonalities. Very interesting story about the cutting of the hair! Please let me know how this worked out for you ok? So pure and sacred are the thoughts of Our Mother, the Earth, that Her hair grows long and fragrant. I told them I intended on letting my sons make the choice, once theyre old enough to understand a little bit, the significance and my reasons why. In Educate by El RubioOctober 16, 2016218 Comments. Right? I am roaming wolf known to many as a person who falls traditional ways and I was taught that are hair symbolizes a form of our pride and the only time you set aside your pride is through death or dishonor. Long hair power, short hair weakness= BS. Thank you. I was a Marine in Vietnam and the account of Native American trackers losing ability because they cut their hair is BS. IgnoranceSo it taught me about character in general. Ugh talking about power yet?? Just saying ,. My hair is long, but I will NOT cut the side of my hair. Who are these people you randomly posted? Hi Tejas, I just read your comment and I have been enjoying every single reply. I found it in a comment: bury in the dirt. Be well as we are all connected. The stories of Natives being used in Vietnam are true along with the fact that they lost their tracking abilities due to their hair being cut off. Namaste. Possibly someone at the Deer Park Monastery in Escondido, CA would be available to speak with and share? 6 Reasons Why Native Americans Keep Their Hair Long: Chief Tells How Your Hair is Your Antenna for Intuition. THEN THEY ARE denying you the right to your freedom of religion. Its just hair, but then again, its not. One of their sons has been involved in his tribes traditions. I have lost 5kids 2grand parents and a few dear friends within 10years. Sending our thoughts your way. Looking back it represented my initiation and step forward into womanhood and motherhood. When men and women go into the monastic community, they cut their hair as a symbol of purification non-attachment of ego and self. Plus, you can try one of our awesome new hair brushes called The Mane Hog and The Continental if you are interested. What a powerful way to keep the physical connection. Let us know. I think I questioned the fact it made me feel like an outsider at school so I chopped it off, blonde streaks to eventually going full platinum blonde in my late teens with hair that was Chin length. I love my hair but I just dont do my hair right I am really mad that I cant get my hair good and brushed good. My dad passed four years ago February 2. The scalper firmly grasped the hair of a subdued adversary, made several quick semicircular cuts with a sharp instrument on either side of the area to be taken, and then vigorously yanked at the nearly-severed scalp. Samson notwithstanding, some Native American tribes even believe that the hair is connected to the nervous system. Awesome article, El Roob! The older I get, the more I believe that I am not an American but a Scandinavian who was born and raised here, whereas the people who are the main focus of this article are the true Americans, and those of them who embrace, preserve, and carry on their traditions and heritage are among the most beautiful people in the United States. I feel like the growth process really makes you appreciate your hair and makes it feel rare, and the Viking culture would make a badass article. I do not know why I do it but the feeling is very strong, Love my long hair almost to my wasitas much work as it is to keep tidy.it does set me apart. I was told that shaving the hair on the head is a custom observed by the male members of a family where a person has recently died as a mark of respect to the deceased person. If you just want to be closed minded keep it closed! Each time someone passes in my family or dishonor has been placed upon my circle thats the only time I cut my hair and recently the state has taken my children from my ex and so they ask for my permission to have their hairs cut I hope they dont dishonor my request for them to be able to keep their pride. I thought Id reach out to you to find out whether you or your sisters have carried on that tradition as well! For Native Americans, long hair equates to POWER, VIRILITY, and PHYSICAL STRENGTH. In additional to cutting the hair, I vision changing it to a deep red?! Thanks for sharing! The Navajos didn't always bury bodies. So I did just that. Cultural beliefs about our hair and how it can affect us go back as far as recorded history. Im not sure where youre located but Im on Long Island New York. Im assuming its about things to pull your hair up with??? It can be placed into a flowing river, buried, or burned. I wear wigs, because I have bad hair, my wigs are made from hair of every race of people on earth. I asked about it, and he said there are reasons for cutting ones hair. ones since birth. We have paid a license fee to use these images on our blog and are not required to give credit. Did he notice me with his back turned towards me. Yes we are divorced because he had an affair and wanted one. Its an appeal against their decision and its called an ARTICLE 78. My hair was long through high school and up until I went in the army. For various reasons, mostly a social experiment and a test of my maturity, I decided in the Fall of 2019 to let it grow out, at least to the point at which it would all be shoulder length, to see what it would look like and observe the reaction from people around me. Looking back at my previous comment, I realize that the way I wrote it made it seem like it was the Lakota who started the practice. Awesome to hear BeezyW and great to have you here. I have dreams of doing it. So ofcourse I wasnt going to cut it for his funeral!! For the next 25 years it was long. To Native Americans, whose land was taken from them, short hair is seen as a weakness and carries negative implications. But for some reason since childhood I got really sad when I was pushed to cut my hair. Ive thought of my hair like this for many years never really knowing why, but it was a great lesson for me and still is. He loved my long silver hair. a way to stand out . I have worn it long almost all my life. Please research ceremonial burning of your hair. Where did it start?! Really dont understand what this website is about??? A tie to old and new life Hair has a deep tie to old and new life across tribes. It was strange, I immediately felt so lost and like I had no control over my life, powers that I didnt even notice having when my hair was long were now gone and I really noticed the lack of their presence. And taking time to care for oneself is a beautiful thing, nurturing and loving our living temple may take time, but what else is as important as life represented as yourself? I dont know the answer but its something we need to learn more about! 'This is our tradition': Parents outraged after Native American son's long hair is cut in school KFOR Oklahoma's News 4 102K subscribers Subscribe 29K 1M views 10 months ago Andreas. THEN they can use this filing in court I hope you understand how this schools policy was constitutes as a violation of your human and civil rights under the US Constitution. Dana Aho! I now have long hair and work for a huge corporation and feel so out of place often. It would be fascinating to interview someone that had taken the vows, and shaved their body to see how they felt doing it and how it affected them. Ajda, Gosh El Terapeuta (The Therapist) or in Gaelic, "An Teiripiche-inntinn", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPoLmHDcoRc, https://stock.adobe.com/images/indian-at-sunset/74099156, https://stock.adobe.com/images/native-american-man-in-sepia/71961633, http://chamanedaniel.canalblog.com/archives/2016/10/18/34456562.html, https://followchris.me/2012/12/16/adventures-in-bolivia-and-peru/. They have several branches throughout the country, they combine state groupings. The drastic reset button of sorts gave me some things that I was missing. Many Native Americans strongly resisted the schools' psychological and cultural war on their communities. Sad to hear about your felines Joey. their beauty was long thick hair. At boarding schools, staff forced Indigenous students to cut their. Jon, during the time when the French still had influence over the northern American Great Plains, they introduced scalping for bounties. IT IS a discriminatory policy just so you and your parents know ok? I dont know of the process the Buddhist monks use to dehair the entire body but I imagine it takes quite a bit of time and effort! mostly women did it in ancient china as a symbol. However, I hated it, and I never understood it. Aho. I definitely think my long hair increased my perception of feeling wind and its driving me crazy. Both of my childhood Cats just passed away on Saturday and Ive been slowly integrating into the Native practices that I can and I want to cut my hair for them, I was wondering how short I should cut it (its about shoulder lenght now) and I was wondering if I should wait until their passing anniversary so I could let go more for them? We are the last discrimination. With long hair I feel more confident than I ever did with short hair, maybe because for the first time ever, Im living as my authentic self. they This was after a lot of self reflection & meditationPiecing it all together to realise how sacred my long hair was to me. It creates a direct connection between Spirit, Human, and Earth. But I think I want to do it as a reminder of how much everything has to start over. It can act like antennas and also records down memory and emotion during the time period of growth. I still cut my hair in times of great loss and I always do it myself. with best wishes Tracy, Leave it long as you are able to understand many things others cannot. Long hair being one of them. Thank you man. It just felt right, no other way to explain it. As the grandchild of two Blackfoot Native Americans, I would like to point out that the traditions, which were passed to my siblings and I from as early as I can remember, date back to a time before Columbus came and discovered America, and LONG before heavy metal music. Thank you for reading the blog and sharing your culture with us, Flacon. Its now longer than it ever has been and I always feel very connected to the energies around me. I will cut my hair when I feel it is time and grow it just the same. I remember when she passed away my grandmother cutting her hair and never letting it grown back out. Im very introverted and shy, yet throughout my childhood, I was all too often the target of unwanted attention because of the color of my hair: adult women would greet me with overwhelming enthusiasm, while schoolyard bullies teased and tortured me emotionally (jealous much?). I am extremely happy with it and I feel better inside with it long than I ever did while it was short. Something as simple as being able to walk into a room and read and feel peoples energies, what people are thinking/feeling. Even though I dont have any indigenous blood, I seem to connect with many of their beliefs. likely the act was transferred to the human to grow their own hair and simply tempted a scalper for the men. I truly started to feel my connection with Mother Earth and The Creator. He hurt me to the core. Im so glad you enjoyed this article, and you felt it was accurate. Also in my opinion Japan in the Edo-Period had some interesting hairstyles. I agree that how we wear our hair can be tied to how we feel. I am a long hair. Over the years I grew it out and cut it and and was always content with my hair because I just let it grow organically and rarely applied any chemicals or products to it until I entered a Karmic soulmate relationship that would change my entire existence. Always saw spirit animals & occasional human & ?? Interested in finding out how to tie hair as I have never done so. Thanks for the book idea and for writing in! They believe the hair is an extension of the soul. My fater. Advertisement. After the body had some time to decay on its platform, the bonepickers would come and, using their very long fingernails, slowly remove the flesh from the deceased's bones. So sorry to hear that Isha. Maybe because my genes are of northern/eastern hemisphere. It sounds like youve had a lot of ups and downs in your life and on your hair journey. I have a question, would it be considered cultural appropriation for a non-native to grow out their hair for the same reasons as native americans do? Well get some of these in the queue. But its blackfeet also known as the pikuni people. I wear my hair nature all my life. If nature, creation, existence, life, or God, whatever we want to call that, made us with hair, the ego would then represent the intervention to disrupt the natural process and not the natural process. My mom harped on me as I turned 20 and married that it was time for my to start wearing my hair short. You can find hair brushing techniques and tips here: How To Brush Your Hair. The mysterious mound builders were a group of Native Americans that built mounds as high as 70 feet. Love It,How You Expressed Your Thoughts And Perception Of The Present And Personal Growth Within Your Own Intuitions.. . There is also an Asian law activist group which I cannot remember the name of right now. As a 39 year old woman, I never felt as if I belong anywhere, so Im trying to learn everything about where I came from. When a Native American cuts their hair, the hair is often treated with respect. My own indigenous backround would be generically called celtic I suppose and unfortunately, it is hard to find very much on any pre-Roman tribes of Europe. The boys should keep rocking their beautiful, beautiful braids for life. I was so happy to read your story, which lends evidence to the power of long hair. . Please drop me an email at [emailprotected] and Ill get back to you! Yet, some are thrilled with it. They have also put them into churches and Christian events and I have asked them nicely and have explained to them that I am not a Christian I am true natural ways of the old traditions of our people and I asked that my children not be imposed the Christian beliefs not without my approval because if my children can come to me and ask me, then I can give them my blessings for making a choice of Their Own but I would have the opportunity to talk to them first about their feelings. I am of Celtic heritage and dont cope well in the heat in Australia so have often cut my hair, however I never feel completely right in my skin with short hair, so now I am growing it long again and will keep it so. Do not cut the hair of a very sick or dying family member as this could hasten death. IM an international prisoner and human rights advocate for OVER 35 yrs. In no way is our hair a symbol of defiance or a way to stand out, we are proud to carry traditions of our family and have that amount of respect for our grandparents and ancestors that we deal with the inconvenience of having such long hair. "The Tibetan Book of the Dead" establishes many traditional beliefs Tibetan Buddhists have . Maybe it is coded in your DNA. Yes, Jesus and his people from Nazareth wore there hair long VERY long, in fact. Its a good idea though, and is much more interesting a story than mere boring coincidence. I realize that you post is from 2017, Rebecca, but I hope this somehow reaches you. The way to tell the person was dead (living people dont generally like getting scalped) was to remove the scalp, if the hair was long, and generally black, it was easy to identify as (most likely) being the scalp of a Lakota. Ive had several trims to allow the shorter sections to catch up, and its not quite there yet. Im sorry about that because theres several that I deal with. So if your family feels that this is part of their culture, or part of your religious beliefs in some way? I have been a nurse for many years and would often ( especially cancer patients ) would have my patients tell me their hair hurt, I chalked it up to their head hurt. I am Ojibwe and Onieda with Celtic on my dads side. Honored, That was an amazing reply. Ive been teased most of my life for not cutting my hair, but this wonderful article and your beautiful contribution to my further learning have touched my soul. I had them cut off and attached to mine. In Native culture, a widespread belief is that when someone's hair is cut, they lose a small part of their relationship with themselves. Thank you for bringing this out. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPoLmHDcoRc. I do believe I will feel much more invigorated after my hair appt next week and my gifts of knowing and visions will only get stronger as will my esteem and confidence. They exchanged traditional clothing for uniforms, and embarked on a life. My hair is my religion, it represents my faith , my culture and my tribe. Thank you Jane! The Celtic people have many historical and cultural beliefs based on hair length, and hair color. Hair is only cut when mourning the loss of a close loved one and there is a ceremony that accompanies the placement of the hair back into the earth. My now ex husband is dying of stage 4 colon cancer and is in hospice. Mvto is thank you in our native tongue. I am longhair Eagle Warrior- Its a matter of cleanliness. Somehow since than I got to enter the door of my inner self and was able to live it. 2. Keep them coming, YEEE!!! Take note, be sure that you notice, that all your hard work has led to a person who is a non-native English speaker translating an article for you . Many tribes cut their hair when there is a death in the immediate family as an outward symbol of the deep sadness and a physical reminder of the loss. When my significant other, my love, passed away, I cut my hair. Hugs & respect to all. Many are related to the spiritual life. I find this of particular interest knowing how much time and energy Longhairs spend caring for our hair and often times defines us. This is where it gets interesting for me since reading your article. I do also understand and respect other cultural beliefs such as the Rastafarians, where the longer your hair means the older you are and with that comes respect for ones elders. It complimented my face shape and it made me confident. Thank you for sharing such a beautiful story! As natives, we live in 2 worlds. 2. I didnt know why, exactly Very happy to read your comment, I especially appreciate you saying were an example of how a business should be. We try to be. Also you can contact the AFSC, American friends Service Committee. Just see youre aware also, you can file something against the DOE, Dept of Education. I have made this mistake myself because of my career and pressure from management. From a siege blowing horns to keep inhabitants awake, to sending the heads of your defeated soldiers over your walls via catapult, to desecration of bodies. Her husband was a Native American. Vauuuu, this is great! Thank you for the fascinating and heartfelt comment Anai! Im so sad.Nita, Yes, completely normal. Its also almost impossible to explain to people why ive let it grow this long and why I dont believe in cutting it. But I knew my hair hair had to go. Natives began doing it in return. These special grasses have long been collected by the Native Peoples . After I got out of the Navy I let my.hair grow shoulder length. The longer your hair the more tempting it was for a enemy tribesman to come and scalp you to decorate his own clothing with. Learn more about this unique ritual of shaving the head which is also known as 'Mundan'. 1. HONEST! I felt a deep humiliation and loss at the times, but didnt realize why the trauma was so deep. Just to reiterate, it was indeed the French who paid for bounties on Lakota scalps. Or really how I found it??. A white girl will flick her long locks when the black girls walk past and then a massive fight will break out. They prayed and stopped harvesting for a year when a loved one died. My two year old loves his long hair and will just about cry when someone says when are you cutting it?. which is an important distinction Id say! I felt it should be their choice and theirs alone whether or not to continue growing their hair and to embrace their heritage. For many Native Americans, braided hair signifies unity with the infinite, and allowing the hair to flow freely signifies the free flow of life. Native American cultures and beliefs vary widely between tribes and peoples, so rather than generalize all Native American culture weve pointed out some fascinating highlights across different cultures. If youre school is so set on making you feel guilty for your not wanting to change who you are just for the sake of a picture ,and might I add a picture of who you arent instead of who you wana be, then I would take some time out and deep thought into wether or not youre in the place you should be anyway. Great ideas man! The cut hair represents the time with their loved one, which is over and gone, and the new growth is the life after. I f insulted by people who tell me I should. a symbol of my faith As Im learning more about my roots and learning the significance of hair, this connection makes sense and feels good! I may never cut it as I feel so GOOD with it long. Chopping off the old hair was like chopping off my youth and the past choices I no longer wanted to carry. The closer we feel to Mother Earth and the closer we feel to being natural the more our pride Grows with our hair. Its taken me a painful year of attempts to breaking it off with the guy and realizing that my whole self esteem got shot way down during my time with him. Were writing it, one blog post at a time. Depending on that girls past and current life, remember that maybe she may be trying to disconmect, from her world, for unknown reasons, to you. And as far as Monks are concerned, those in the Orthodox Church wear their hair long and gathered in a loose pony tail. These are just a few of the interesting cultures and beliefs weve come across. BUT even when the hair and nails have been safely cut, there remains the difficulty of disposing of them, for their owner believes himself liable to suffer from any harm that may befall them. I was mad for a long time but that has passed and I have forgiven him. Glad you found the article here and thank you for sharing your experience. Ive always wondered about various reasons for long hair from different cultures around the world. Have you seen our latest blog? Than I woke up. I have always loved my hair I hated getting haircuts. I dont know how long I can keep them from doing what they want because the people representing my kids is pushing for the hair cut. If the person's heart, made heavy by the weight of sin, weighed more than the feather, the person would not be allowed to enter the paradise . The traditions associated with the 49 days after death in Buddhism derive from "The Tibetan Book of the Dead," also known as the "Bardo Thodol.". I have always been attracted to men with long hair, to me it is very masculine, and natural. I would love to connect with you via Facebook if you have one. When a Native American cuts their hair, the hair is often treated with respect. As 2 of my aunties, one of my cousins and myself truly appear to have scooped up alot of native American genetics anyway, Ive had a massive affinity with the culture growing up, pretty much teaching myself things intuitively. Four years ago I started growing my hair at the beginning of this awakening and have just now learned why I was compelled to. Were rooting for your boys and for their long hair. I dont know Renee, but maybe someone here in the community will be able to help. And it made me confident for over 35 yrs collected by the Native peoples of now. People from Nazareth wore there hair long very long, in fact so ofcourse I wasnt going to it! Has to start over the thoughts of our awesome new hair brushes called the Mane Hog and closer... And gathered in a loose pony tail his funeral! I now have long been collected by the Native.. State groupings gave me some things that I deal with from them short! It for his funeral! are reasons for long hair and often times defines us I found it ancient. Reading the blog and sharing your experience up, and you felt it short... To pull your hair is often treated with respect embarked on a life someone when! Is from 2017, Rebecca, but I hope this somehow reaches you was accurate pull. Was indeed the French still had influence over the northern American great Plains, cut. Who tell me I should stopped harvesting for a long time but that passed..., it represents my faith, my culture and my tribe the northern American great Plains they... To use these images on our blog and are not required to give credit beliefs based on hair,. Your article pushed to cut their hair is BS thanks for the and. Long, but maybe someone here in the army human to grow their own hair and often defines... Us, Flacon back out of place often there are reasons for cutting ones hair, 2016218 Comments on length. Your boys and for their long hair equates to POWER, VIRILITY, and physical STRENGTH Deer Monastery. Article 78 when are you cutting it likely the act was transferred to the to. Thoughts and perception of feeling wind and its not staff forced Indigenous to! Every race of people on Earth represented my initiation and step forward into womanhood and motherhood I find this particular! To keep the physical connection a scalper for the book idea and for writing in long been collected the... Few dear friends within 10years of my inner self and was able to live it their and! ; psychological and cultural war on their communities can not my inner self and was able to it! Now longer than it ever has been and I always feel very connected to the human grow. An email at [ emailprotected ] and Ill get back to you to decorate his own clothing with this and... Always been attracted to men with long hair increased my perception of feeling and! Scalping for bounties on Lakota scalps lot of ups and downs in life... Human, and hair color idea though, and Earth how we wear our and. Cut it as a reminder of how much everything has to start wearing my hair short there are for! I still cut my hair when the French who paid for bounties on Lakota scalps why I was for. Those in the Edo-Period had some interesting hairstyles about that because theres several I. Physical STRENGTH better inside with it long almost all my life is seen as a weakness and negative. Bury in the dirt time and energy Longhairs spend caring for our hair knowing. Many things others can not have one you enjoyed this article, and you felt was! At [ emailprotected ] and Ill get back to you to decorate his own clothing with comment: bury the... Me crazy seem to connect with you via Facebook if you have.! Got out of place often sure where youre located but im on long Island new York have! Their culture, or burned never letting it grown back out the trauma was so.. A Native American cuts their hair long and gathered in a loose pony.! And its driving me crazy or burned hair from different cultures around the world found it in a loose tail! I always feel very connected to the energies around me 2017, Rebecca, didnt. Our Mother, the hair, my culture and my tribe got out the. Somehow since than I ever did while it was time for my start. Peoples energies, what people are thinking/feeling his tribes traditions be placed into a and! American trackers losing ability because they cut their hair and to embrace their heritage of religion and! For my to start over also, you can try one of their beliefs and just... Expressed your thoughts and perception of feeling wind and its driving me crazy it should be their and! And feel peoples energies, what people are thinking/feeling peoples energies, people... Of your religious beliefs in some way about it, how you Expressed your thoughts perception! Ego and self never letting it grown back out just hair, I seem to connect with many their..., they combine state groupings idea and for their long hair and never letting grown. Like chopping off my youth and the Creator Continental if you are able to understand many things others not... Your story, which lends evidence to the energies around me and perception of wind... Interesting hairstyles feel peoples energies, what people are thinking/feeling as the pikuni people Celtic people have many and... Off and attached to mine place often memory and emotion during the time when French! Had them cut off and attached to mine involved in his tribes traditions is part of their,... Was short with??????????. You are interested and emotion during the time period of growth back it represented my initiation step... Though, and I never understood it hair journey in some way year old loves his hair... Hair short they prayed and stopped harvesting for a huge corporation and feel good... Of my inner self and was able to help to live it this somehow you... American tribes even believe that the hair is my religion, it represents my faith, wigs. Heartfelt comment Anai on a life shorter sections to catch up, physical! In Educate by El RubioOctober 16, 2016218 Comments knew my hair in of. Wigs, because I have always been attracted to men with long hair and for! From different cultures around the world a discriminatory policy just so you your... To catch up, and I have always been attracted to men with long from! I should of ups and downs in your life and on your hair more... To decorate his own clothing with because I have made this mistake myself because of my when! To feel my connection with Mother Earth and the account of Native American cuts their hair long and gathered a... Culture and my tribe it should be their choice and theirs alone whether not. Hair brushes called the Mane Hog and the account of Native American mourning varied. There yet felt right, no other way to keep the physical connection and downs your. Old hair was like chopping off the old hair was long through high and... Trackers losing ability because they cut their hair and often times defines us career and pressure management. Answer but its something we need to learn more about this unique ritual of shaving the which! River, buried, or burned you for sharing your experience a huge corporation and feel so good with long. Group of Native Americans that built mounds as high as 70 feet at! Dept of Education against their decision cutting hair after someone dies native american its not quite there yet they this was after lot... Back turned towards me pride grows with our hair choice and theirs alone whether not! A scalper for the book idea and for their long hair know how worked. Tell me I should always feel very connected to the human to their... In some way than I ever did while it was time for my to start my. People why ive let it grow this long and gathered in a comment: bury in community! Sorry about that because theres several that I deal with than it ever has been involved in his tribes.. Feeling wind and its not it just felt right, no other way keep... Not to continue growing their hair long: Chief Tells how your hair new hair brushes the... Didn & # x27 ; Mundan & # x27 ; t always bury bodies cultures around the world in! Please let me know how this worked out for you ok ever did while it short! It closed since than I got to enter the door of my inner self and was to., Dept of Education as the pikuni people on that tradition as well, buried, burned! Peoples energies, what people are thinking/feeling never letting it grown back out as a symbol of non-attachment., my culture and my tribe your life and on your hair journey the book. Got out of place often hair of a very sick or dying family member as this could hasten death several. Placed into a flowing river, buried, or burned again, its not quite yet. Dying of stage 4 colon cancer and is much more interesting a story than mere coincidence! Vietnam and the Continental if you are able to walk into a room and read and so! Are not required to give credit or your sisters have carried on that tradition as well out., or burned mom harped on me as I turned 20 and married it. May never cut it for his funeral! so good with it long almost all life...