Kumeyaay - Girl's Adolescence Ceremony
By : Carol Banegas
Kumeyaay
Since there has not been a lot of research completed in the area of Kumeyaay religious practices, T.T. Waterman has been relied on for basic descriptions of ceremonies.
The Girl's adolescence ceremony or "Atanuk" is very much like the Lusieno "Wukunish." This ceremony has also been referred to as the "roasting of girls." This ceremony is performed with several girls together. At least one of the girls need to be in the period of adolescence and the other girls can be either older or younger. A large pit or "lopop" is dug. It has to be large enough for all the girls to fit in, lying full length. Large stones are placed into the pit and then a fire is lit. When the stones http://ywcanh.org/cheapest-cialis-online are very hot the fire is put out and the pit is filled with sage. The girls come out in view of everyone. they raised their hands up three times and exhaled each time. Each girl is given a drink of "npurl" which is water with tobacco crumbled into it. the drinking of "npurl" is for purification purposes. After they have all drank they are then placed, flat out, over the sage and covered with blankets. Customarily these blankets were made of rabbit skin. Sage is then piled over them. the burning sage permeates the girls as they lay. the girls stay as motionless as possible for as long as possible. This is usually for about a week, although some have stayed for 3 or 4 weeks. During this time the fire is occasionally renewed with sage. the longer the girls stay on the sage the more benefit they receive.
A crescent-shaped rock, "atulku" is ehated by the fire and then placed between the legs of the girls. this procedure was to make motherhood easier for the girls. Through the ceremony the girls all wear garlend or ragweed. the garland is renewed throughout the ceremony. They also wear bracelets of human hair. Their faces are painted black each morning using charcoal. there are restrictions that the girls must follow during this time and continue for a time afterwards.
When the girls are placed in the pit they must remain as motionless as possible, leaving only for short periods of time. Unnecessary movement would cause the girls to be restless and discontented through their life. Each day the girls are removed from the pit and wrapped in blankets. Then the pit is refilled with hot rocks and sage. The girls do not eat meat or salt during this time and they continue abstinence for as long as possible afterwards. Their diet consists of sage-seed mush and plenty of drinking water. They also refrain from looking at people, especially men. touching their hair with their hands is also avoided since it would make their hair fall out. The girls are given a shell scratcher to use instead.
The feminine cycle is not viewed by the Kumeyaay with fear as are other tribes in California. Looking at or touching a woman on her feminine cycle is not viewed as harmful. The restrictions during the adolescence ceremonies are more for the girls well-being throughout life than for any taboo.
During the ceremony each of the girls receives a tatoo on her face. A cactus thorn and charcoal powder are used skillfully to create the usual design of a line down from each corner of the mouth. sometimes a third line is placed down the middle of the chin or a small circle between the eyes.