Feasts

“Feasts” are an essential part of our cultures and our activities. Feasts are done for a variety of different reasons including but not limited to:

• Providing sustenance
• Honoring and acknowledging the ‘helpers’ who have come to a ceremony to work with and help us
• Giving thanks
• Celebrating important events

There are many important parts of a feast including but not limited to:

• Who prepares the food.
• Prayers that are said when the food is hunted or harvested
• The sacred way in which the food is prepared, blessed, and served
• The actual eating or sharing of the food

There are many different teachings surrounding the preparation of and the participation in a cultural feast.

e.g. some people are taught that feasts should only be prepared in the morning, that you should not taste the food while it is being prepared, and that no food can be wasted. It is important to talk to the Elder, teacher, or traditional person that you work with for more specific guidelines or protocols.