What are these rags on trees?

[gloszz]

Was hunting a few areas this season and have noticed that there are lots of rags on trees, on crown land, but close to First Nations Reserves. In Hinton for example, was hunting crown land and almost every tree was covered in multi colored rags. Also counted about 50 teepee frames/skeletons. Who and why?

[Red Bullets]

Read This...it refers to the ribbons or rags you encountered.

And I quote from the article:
"Yellow represents the eagle spirit and sun, which comes from the east, while red represents the thunder spirits—thunder, lightening, water and fire—from the south. Blue represents the wind spirit—the breath of the creator—coming from the west, and white is the buffalo spirit from the north."

http://www.fitzhugh.ca/ribbon-trees-strengthening-ties/

[gloszz]

Originally Posted by Red Bullets

Read This...it refers to the ribbons or rags you encountered.

And I quote from the article:
"Yellow represents the eagle spirit and sun, which comes from the east, while red represents the thunder spirits—thunder, lightening, water and fire—from the south. Blue represents the wind spirit—the breath of the creator—coming from the west, and white is the buffalo spirit from the north."

http://www.fitzhugh.ca/ribbon-trees-strengthening-ties/

Interesting! Thank you!

Now who put up all these teepes up by Hinton. East of the community pasture....

[gloszz]

Originally Posted by Red Bullets

Read This...it refers to the ribbons or rags you encountered.

And I quote from the article:
"Yellow represents the eagle spirit and sun, which comes from the east, while red represents the thunder spirits—thunder, lightening, water and fire—from the south. Blue represents the wind spirit—the breath of the creator—coming from the west, and white is the buffalo spirit from the north."

http://www.fitzhugh.ca/ribbon-trees-strengthening-ties/

That also does make sense because I have seen them all the way up the Athabasca from Hinton to Calling Lake.

[ROA]

They also put them out anytime there is logging or oil/gas development so they can put on a big show about how the land is theirs as far as the eye can see.

[HIGHLANDER HUNTING]

Found them in k country too. 406

[honda450]

Yup seen it many times. One that had no rags on the trees before the pipeline was laid out and then magically appeared before the line was cleared of bush. Go figure.

[HunterDave]

Something spiritual. The small patch of bush by the healing centre in Sr Albert is plastered with multiple articles of clothing.

[mgvande]

It could be the clothing from that car crash last week.

[MountainTi]

Originally Posted by honda450

Yup seen it many times. One that had no rags on the trees before the pipeline was laid out and then magically appeared before the line was cleared of bush. Go figure.

Why on earth would that happen.....coincidence.. ?

[Brian Adams]

Originally Posted by gloszz

Was hunting a few areas this season and have noticed that there are lots of rags on trees, on crown land, but close to First Nations Reserves. In Hinton for example, was hunting crown land and almost every tree was covered in multi colored rags.

Would seem unsightly. Like litter.

[alacringa]

Originally Posted by Brian Adams

Would seem unsightly. Like litter.

It is. Lots of them in 406 and it makes the forest ugly.

[Bigwoodsman]

Those rags are Samsquatch Butt wipes!

BW

[walking buffalo]

Gloszz,

We, In English call these Prayer-cloths.

These "Rags" are cloth of various colours which represent different directions in Nature and Spirits.

The clothes are an offering to the Spirits, given after prayers.

The reasons for the offerings and prayers are as varied as life itself.
It could be prayers for a passed child or mother, or for personal health.
Often the offerings are for prayers for Nature itself.

Red Bullets link gives a bit of insight, just be wary of the details. Different people associate the colours in different ways. Neither are wrong, just different.


I find the dismissive and rude comments here saddening.
Coming from people who likely think of themselves as conservationist and caring of Nature, the negativity generally lies within ignorance and a fear of the unknown.

Truth is the people that use and place these offerings are those that are closest to Nature, those that are least likely to harm Her.


Honda,

Of course it is no coincidence.
These offerings are often placed close to undisturbed Nature, places where the Spirit is strong.

Perhaps the offerings were placed to ask for forgiveness and healing to the hurt that is about to be inflicted on the Land.

I always wonder if people that cut and dig into undisturbed land ever feel remorse, or have they become numb to their actions?

------

Nothing to fear here, and lots to Respect.

[gloszz]

Originally Posted by alacringa

It is. Lots of them in 406 and it makes the forest ugly.

I didn't think of it that way. I just thought maybe it was some kind of camp or had some meaning. I also thought maybe it is meant to look like "humans" so when an animal is running during a hunt, they turn back or stutter and the hunter can shoot the animal.

Imagination going strong again haha.

[Brian Adams]

Originally Posted by walking buffalo

I find the dismissive and rude comments here saddening.
Coming from people who likely think of themselves as conservationist and caring of Nature, the negativity generally lies within ignorance and a fear of the unknown.

Can you imagine if everyone that visited the bush
left something unnatural hanging in the trees,
because of a belief?

[Ranch11]

Any rags with brown streak on it?

[Brian Adams]

Originally Posted by Ranch11

Any rags with brown streak on it?

That's what you are into?
Fill yer boots.

[uncle buck]

Thank you walking buffalo

[Brian Adams]

Originally Posted by uncle buck

Thank you walking buffalo

Yes, he gave his reasons for leaving an unnatural substance
in the forest. Dye will leach off those rags. Not good.

[Puma]

Originally Posted by uncle buck

Thank you walking buffalo

X2

I have come across them NE of Morley in the forest.

[play.soccer]

Originally Posted by walking buffalo

Gloszz,

We, In English call these Prayer-cloths.

These "Rags" are cloth of various colours which represent different directions in Nature and Spirits.

The clothes are an offering to the Spirits, given after prayers.

The reasons for the offerings and prayers are as varied as life itself.
It could be prayers for a passed child or mother, or for personal health.
Often the offerings are for prayers for Nature itself.

Red Bullets link gives a bit of insight, just be wary of the details. Different people associate the colours in different ways. Neither are wrong, just different.


I find the dismissive and rude comments here saddening.
Coming from people who likely think of themselves as conservationist and caring of Nature, the negativity generally lies within ignorance and a fear of the unknown.

Truth is the people that use and place these offerings are those that are closest to Nature, those that are least likely to harm Her.


Honda,

Of course it is no coincidence.
These offerings are often placed close to undisturbed Nature, places where the Spirit is strong.

Perhaps the offerings were placed to ask for forgiveness and healing to the hurt that is about to be inflicted on the Land.

I always wonder if people that cut and dig into undisturbed land ever feel remorse, or have they become numb to their actions?

------

Nothing to fear here, and lots to Respect.

Bolded. Like those who over hunt and hunt out of season? Seems harmful to me.

[alacringa]

Originally Posted by walking buffalo

Truth is the people that use and place these offerings are those that are closest to Nature, those that are least likely to harm Her.

Those who are closest to nature respect it by leaving it as it is.

[270person]

Originally Posted by alacringa

Those who are closest to nature respect it by leaving it as it is.

No kidding. The hypocrisy at play here is ridiculous.

Closest to nature? Yeah right.

[walking buffalo]

Originally Posted by uncle buck

Thank you walking buffalo

Hiy Hiy!


Nothing like a thread about threads to reveal people's true colours.

[Slowburn]

I get traditions, but they're hanging dyed garbage made in China/Taiwan/etc all over the land they respect?

[saddleup]

If I hung old rags on trees in a park in Alberta I would be charged with littering, but if and Indian does its ok? I for one am tired of the double standards our Govt takes.

[Jeromeo]

Sometimes our views don't always align. Many of your Euro-centric viewpoints don't allow you to fully understand why us Indigenous people do the things we do. It's ok not to understand but it doesn't require you to be disrespectful. Some of the comments here make me a little sad that there is still so much negativity in 2017.
Walking Buffalo, thank you for explaining the colours.

I wish you all nothing but the best.

[CanuckShooter]

Originally Posted by Jeromeo

Sometimes our views don't always align. Many of your Euro-centric viewpoints don't allow you to fully understand why us Indigenous people do the things we do. It's ok not to understand but it doesn't require you to be disrespectful. Some of the comments here make me a little sad that there is still so much negativity in 2017.
Walking Buffalo, thank you for explaining the colours.

I wish you all nothing but the best.

It's a lot of racism really, for some people it doesn't matter what a FNs does it's an issue for them.

[Brian Adams]

Originally Posted by CanuckShooter

It's a lot of racism really, for some people it doesn't matter what a FNs does it's an issue for them.

It's litter. That's it.
When I did oil and gas exploration in the the bush,
zero garbage was left.
When I camp in the bush, zero garbage is left.