One Indigenous woman sets her intentions for the Indian New Year.
The year-end ritual of quiet contemplation, inward reflection, and gratitude for life’s gifts isn’t some new-age phenomenon; rather, it’s a seasonal tradition that has been practiced by Indigenous peoples for millennia. Also known as Indian New Year, the Winter Solstice is sometimes decried for its darkness, given that it’s the shortest day of the year here in the Northern Hemisphere. But as Native American communities know, this long night is a time for celebration.
Though tribal nations have their own solstice traditions that reflect their unique culture, history, and even geography, there’s a fairly universal emphasis on gathering, feasting, and storytelling. Those ceremonies often center around the notion of renewal, with the understanding that the longer days ahead bring with them the return of important first foods upon which Indigenous lifeways have been built going back to the time of creation.
Like many people, I have experienced both abundance and adversity in 2024. And like many people, I’m finding myself feeling a bit listless and lost in the days leading up to the end of the year. That’s probably why so many of us tend to resent that reduced daylight; it comes at a time when we could use its life-giving, life-affirming forces the most. To prepare for the Winter Solstice, I realized I needed to reframe my mindset, so I tapped a trusted resource to help me.
Earlier this fall, I had the wonderful opportunity to connect with and learn from Umatilla/Cayuse/Nez Perce jingle dress dancer Acosia Red Elk. In addition to sharing her beautiful performances, she is also a yoga instructor and a wellness advocate who has gained her wisdom by overcoming countless obstacles throughout her life, including losing her father at a young age and being burned in a fire as a child. The minute I met Acosia, I could feel that deep wisdom radiating from within her.
The Gift, Eugene Tapahe, 2022, Yellowstone National Park, WY, Art Heals: The Jingle Dress Project
Her yoga class came at a much-needed time, when I was undergoing the last of several major life transformations this year. The way she coached me to move my body, nurture my spirit, and acknowledge my needs was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced during a yoga session. There was a knowing in her ways, and I felt so seen at a time when I couldn’t really see myself.
When I reached out to Acosia to remind me of the importance of the Winter Solstice, she explained that this is a time to welcome the sun back so that it can reawaken the first foods. For the Umatilla, that’s salmon (nusux), deer (nukt), bitter root (sliiton), huckleberry (wiwnu), and water (chuush) — what she calls her people’s true ancestors.
She went on to tell me that these first foods are sacred not only for the nourishment they provide but also because when our elders pass on and return to the earth, they come back to take care of us in these foods. It’s a salient reminder of our interconnectedness not only with the land and all of its living beings but also with the cosmos.
That’s when I got really personal, asking Acosia how she herself celebrates this important occasion, in hopes that it might guide me toward a ritual that would feel right for me right now. She explained that she builds a small altar in her home featuring woven baskets, crystals, shells, eagle feathers, photos of loved ones, and traditional herbs and medicines. She quickly followed that up with this sound advice: Be intuitive with your altar, making it how you want and using what you have.
Yellowstone Bison in Winter by Julie Barrick
Acosia added that she plans to smudge three times throughout the solstice. At sunrise, she’ll burn sweetgrass for the mind and spend some time meditating. At midday, she’ll burn cedar for her home and sacred objects, moving about her space to clear it out and let go of what no longer serves her. At sundown, she’ll burn sage for the body, then sing and dance.
But it can be even easier than that, Acosia told me. Water is medicine, she explained, so you can use water to pray over yourself, simply taking a shower for an energetic cleanse. She closed out our conversation with these wise words: When you pray, you will know what and who to pray for; it will come to you.
Thanks to Acosia’s gentle guidance, I’ll be spending Indian New Year giving myself grace and giving myself space. I’ll be giving gratitude for what’s been and for what’s ahead. And I’ll be readying myself for the renewal to come after the long night.
HEADER IMAGE: Winter Spirits, 2023, Jackson Lake, Grand Teton National Park, WY, Art Heals: The Jingle Dress Project
Thanks to photographer Eugene Tapahe for providing photography from his collection, Art Heals: The Jingle Dress Project.
