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You are here: Home / Health and Healing / Menstrual Myths and Rituals / Menstrual Rites Of The Native Americans

Menstrual Rites Of The Native Americans

Last updated on March 5, 2019 By Shannon F. 30 Comments

In many North American native tribes, menstruation involved a strong oral tradition, rituals and ceremonies. While women might have been restricted from cooking or sleeping with men during her period, this had nothing to do with shame.

menstrual rites and rituals of native americans

Of all of the different approaches and attitudes towards menstruation, the Native Americans had it right in so many ways – well, in my opinion.

Unlike the European American Christians who ultimately drove Native Americans off of their lands, and largely away from their rituals, menstruation was by no means a biblical curse to the Indians.

(In those early American Christian fundamentalist sects, if a woman wasn’t pregnant, she wasn’t in her natural state.)

Native American Menstrual Rites and Rituals

In fact, in many North American native tribes, menstruation involved a strong oral tradition, rituals, ceremonies and more.

While women might have been restricted from cooking or sleeping with men during her period, this had nothing to do with shame.

Menstrual Women Were Honored

In fact, many Native American women were treated with an amazing amount of reverence when they were menstruating.

As I mentioned in my other post about ancient menstrual rites, a lot of the belief in a woman’s capacity for other worldly powers stemmed from her ability to bleed, oftentimes profusely, without dropping dead.

Some tribes actually believed that women were the embodiment of a holy person during their periods.

Others believed that women’s bodies were purifying themselves during this time.

Perhaps most fascinating of all, is that many tribes believed women were more powerful, spiritually, during their periods – and that they even had special intuitive powers.

Some Native American tribe members would call upon menstruating women for their advice, insight, guidance, or to connect them to higher powers.

Menstrual Hut

Menstrual huts were also big amongst the Native American tribes.

During the heaviest four days of their period, wives would leave their homes and go to this separate menstrual lodge to commune with other women.

Since women tend to mense together, these lodges were often quite full and the women inside we encouraged to engage in some serious “girl time” by discussing female issues and indulging in creative pursuits like storytelling and arts and crafts.

Rites of Passage into Womanhood

Plus, when a girl would hit puberty in a Native American tribe, it was nothing like the shame and secrecy we experience today.

Native American puberty rituals were big celebratory events for a village.

Early European settlers noted that the Cheyenne and Apache tribes were particularly open about menstruation – often announcing a girl’s first period to the entire village with pride. Imagine if your dad broadcast your first period all over Facebook.

Read more about Rites of Passage into Womanhood in Native American Cultures.

How different we are!

Recommended Reading

The Red Tent, by Anita Diamant

The Red Tent Movie

Moon Time: Harness the ever-changing energy of your menstrual cycle, by Lucy H. Pearce

Her Blood Is Gold: Awakening to the Wisdom of Menstruation, by Lara Owen

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Related Posts

  • Menstrual Rituals And Rites Through The Ages
  • The Power of Menstrual Moon Rituals
  • The Benefits of Menstrual Moon Rituals

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Hi, this is Jing. I created Cycle Harmony to share what I've learned to live in harmony with my body - and my life. Join us and share yours @facebook.com/cycleharmony!

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  1. Dana says

    September 7, 2021 at 1:48 am

    Thank you Jing for your work and information. I am using you as a resource for a paper I am writing! Thank you for the inspiration and enlightenment!

    Reply
  2. Mila says

    July 21, 2021 at 10:15 pm

    Hi, not all persons who menstruate identify as being a woman. It would be really inclusive of you if you could update the article to say, people who menstruate!!

    Reply
  3. Rory says

    March 22, 2021 at 10:49 pm

    Hi, I was wondering if you could cite some sources for what you say in this article? Ie, from where does this information come?

    Also, could you name some specific tribes? It says “many Native American tribes” a few times, and I’m curious as to which ones exactly?

    Many thanks. 🙂

    Reply
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