Poindexter Family Sweat

For 15 years, my side of the family has gotten together each year around Christmas to celebrate our family. It is a time when we gather together and share our thoughts and experiences and even our battles of the year. It's always been tailored in a Native American way. We always have a sacred circle and follow the Native American ways of entering the circle. My father takes us around the different parts of the circle beginning in the east, the land of the eagle. It represents New Beginnings. Then we travel to the South, the land of the coyote. The coyote represents the trickster in our lives...youth per say. We then travel to the west. The land of the Bear which represents introspect. Finally, we travel to the North, the White Buffalo which represents the gray haired ones, the all knowing ones, the elders. We share different aspects in regards to each land with each other. This year, we were able to share our experiences in a sweat lodge built by the men in the family. Don't worry, it wasn't anything like the sweat that many people died at in Arizona.

The kids had their own sweat with grandpa. Then they went to the babysitters so we could do an adult sweat. Afterwards, we ate, we conversed, we enjoyed each others company. This family ceremony is something that I always look forward to. I always enjoy coming back to the "lodge". No matter what is going on in the lives of my family we ALWAYS make sure we are there for this special time. Here are a few pictures that I took of the day. Nothing big, but a nice memory of this years Family Ceremony.


The kids rounding the lodge before entering for their sweat with grandpa


Waiting for the kids to be done




Kids all done


Brother Jake with his Dr. Pepper Ad


Uncle Alvin. He tended the fire and made sure we had hot rocks for inside the lodge.


Cousin Nate. He's single ladies...and don't worry, he doesn't normally wear his hair like that.


Brother Jason. He thinks he's a model...I guess


My dad after the warrior sweat. The men did a man sweat before the family one, and the women did one after.

Before we took the kids over to get babysat, we did our annual gift exchange and of course, my kids got a second Christmas. Lot's and lots of presents.













Thanks cousin Nate for letting us trash your house. The new year is upon us and I'm already looking forward to when we gather as one whole family again.