AniWayan Traditions

Birthing Ceremony

Three days after pups from a pair of mates are birthed, the pups are taken to the highest ranks Priest of the Tribe. If, for any reason, there is not a Priest, they are taken to the Chief himself. The family and the Priest or Chief then take the pups to the nearest body of water, where they say a short prayer to the Spirits for the pups, trickle water down over their heads, and are then returned to their parents. It is then that the parents name their children. The parents then return to the rest of the Tribe with their pups, introducing them with their new names, and a great feast is had in honor of the new life.

Death Ceremony

In the event of a Tribe member's death, the deceased closest family member or friend decides what is done with their body. Members of the Tribe are normally creamated or buried, but special requests are taken to heart and fulfilled to the best of the Tribe's ability. The Bone Bearer cares for the body, taking time to see how the member died and cleaning them up for their ceremony. The Bone Bearer, along with the highest ranking Priest, gather the rest of the Tribe to sing songs, say prayers, dance, and remember the fond times. Then, well into the night, the tribe gathers to lay the body of the deceased to rest, praying for the Spirits to guide them into a peaceful after life.

Raven Mocker

The Raven Mocker is more of a traditinal story, passed down through the Tribe as something of a scary bedtime story. A Raven Mocker can be of either sex, and there is no real way to know one, usually looking old and withered, because they have added so many lives to their own.

During the night when someone is sick or dying, the Raven Mocker goes there to take their life. He flies through the air with his arms outstretched like wings. There will be a wild wind noise around him, and sparks trailing from behind. Every once in awhile he will dive, and make a sound similar to a raven's cry. All those who hear it are afraid, because they know that someone's life will soon end. When the Raven Mocker makes it to the dying person's house, he often finds others of his kind there. Unless there is a Priest watching out who knows how to drive them off, they will all go inside and frighten and torment the sick person until they kill him. Sometimes, those who are attending the sick think the person is just fighting for their breath.

After the witches take the life, they take out his heart and eat it, and by doing this, they add to their own lives as many days or years as they have taken from his. Nobody who is attending the sick can see them, and there is no scar where they have removed the heart. Upon further examination, they will find that there is no heart left in the body.

Only a medicine person with the right kind of medicine can recognize a Raven Mocker, and if that medicine person stays in the room with the sick person, the witches will be afraid to come in. When one of them has been recognized in his right shape, he must die within seven days. Often, when there is no more hope, they will try to have one of these medicine people stay in the house and guard the body until it is buried. Witches will not steal the hearts after burial.

Wedding Ceremony

In AniWaya, for a pair to become officially mates, a few different things must happen. When a member has chosen a partner they wish to marry they kill a deer and bring a portion of it to their partner's house. If the reciever of the deer wants to marry them, they cook the deer and offer it back to them. If they do not want to marry them, they simply let the deer lie untouched. The marriage itself takes place after the acceptance of the courtship. Both families, the Chief and the Council of Elders all gather together. The receiver of the deer brings an ear of corn, signifying their ability to provide bread, and the giver of the deer brings a piece of deer, signifying their ability to provide meat. A brief ceremony is followed with a feast and dancing. Both families generally gave gifts to the couple to start their new life. Same sex and different sex couples are both accepted. Only a Preist or the Great Priest may conduct the ceremony.

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