Sunday, February 03, 2019

Vision Quest Structures (Saskatchewan)

 "Conceptually, the vision quest structure is a bed. (Joseph) Medicine Crow tells us that: The rows of stones or slabs of rocks, usually oblong-shaped, used by those “Going Without Water” were made not for comfort but as symbolic beds. The names for these structures, therefore, suggest this concept: “fasting bed,” “where someone has lain,” “where to dream,” and “where to have visions” are common examples (1992:81)."
      Quote from the Heart of the Crow Country: the Crow  Indians’ Own Stories
Used as a reference here:
https://www.academia.edu/38265432/Vision_Quest_Structures_in_the_Ethnographic_and_Archaeological_Record_With_Examples_from_Saskatchewan?email_work_card=view-paper

"Not all stone features associated with vision quests are related to fasting beds. In some cases, monuments, in the form of cairns, appear to have been constructed to commemorate vision quest events. Kroeber (1907:419) indicates that the creation of these monuments is “thecommon practice”. Similarly, Curtis (1909a:46) records an instance where the vision quest of a chief “was later marked by the people with a low mound, which is still rebuilt from time to time as it becomes worn away by wind and rain”. Despite these observations, additional references to monuments connected with vision quests do not appear to be common..."

1 comment :

Quartz Queen said...

QuartzQueen said...

I've recently discovered a huge pile of quartz on my property in Searcy,Arkansas. Its around 12Ft×12ft and who knows how deep. They range in size from boulders to teeth and I'm just dying to know more about the origin but I'm unsure who to contact to find out anything more...
Sorry I've never blogged I'm sure I'm posting this in the wrong area,just wanting someone to clue me in...
12:25 AM