The Inipi Lodge

The Inipi Lodge itself is made with a frame of twelve to sixteen willow poles.  These poles are bent over each other and stuck into the ground and covered with hides or blankets.  When the lodge is finished, it stands for the universe.  Usually the door faces the West from where the rain and storms come.  It is where WAKINYAN, Thunderer lives.

The round fireplace at the center of the Lodge stands for the center of the universe, where Wakantanka lives.  In it are put the rocks that were heated in a fire outside and brought in with forked sticks.  Sage covers the floor all around.  A path leads out of the door to a small dirt mound, which is the altar where the Sacred Pipe is kept.

When it is time to start the ceremony, those who are going to take part in it come in through the door and say a prayer to Wakantanka who has put them on this earth.  The Lead Man prays and asks Him to purify them and help them in what they are doing.  In this and in all things they need His help, because they are humble creatures.

Once they are inside, the men sit in a circle on the sage.  Everyone is silent, and then the Pipe is passed in, and everyone watches as the hot rocks are brought in and put into the pit.  When the pit is filled, the Leader offers the Pipe in the four directions, then to heaven and to the earth.  He then lights the Pipe, smokes it and passes it around to everyone. 

When they have all smoked the Pipe, it is put outside on the altar with the stem facing West.  When the Pipe is brought out each time, it will have its stem in one of the other directions until the INIPI is finished.

Then the flap is pulled over the door, and the Lodge becomes completely dark, except for the glow of the rocks.  The Leader pours some water on the rocks, and the steam fills the whole inside.  It has come from the rock and the fire to purify everyone, both inside and out.   Praying to the West, the Leader asks the Great Spirit to look on him and all the people and help them with what they need, so that they may live.

After a while the flap is opened, and water is passed around for everyone to drink.  Then the Pipe is brought in again and smoked by everyone in the circle.  Then, when the Pipe is put outside again, the flap is closed, and the same kind of praying begins again.  It happens in this way till the Leader has prayed in all four directions.

Each of the directions has its own special meaning:

West.  This is where thunder and rainstorms come from and all creatures owe their lives to this water.  WAKINYAN, Thunderer. lives there.  He is the one who judges all creatures.

North.  This is where the powerful winds come from.  Their cold breath chills the heat of anger and bad thoughts and makes men pure as snow, inside and out.

East.  This is where new life shows itself and where hope makes us wise.

South.  This is where happiness and harmony live.  It is said that good souls go in this direction where they find Peace.

When prayers have been said by the Leader in the last direction, he talks to everyone about how Wakantanka has blessed them and how dependent they are on Him for everything.  He is their light in the darkness, so that they can see things correctly with the heart.

Then the flap of the Lodge is opened, and everyone comes out and prays to Wakantanka in a spirit of thankfulness.  As they leave the Lodge each one says: “All my Relatives”.  It is a blessing.

It is important to know that this rite of INIPI helps those who take part in it as well as all people.  It is done, when someone wants to purify himself or herself in order to prepare for God’s help and blessing.  The blessing may be a personal blessing or a blessing on all the People.