Can someone please explain shamanism works with Tlingit culture?
I do not know about Tlingit directly, but I know a shaman from a neighbouring people, so I am guessing it could be similar. Basically, there is a spirit realm. Most traditional (and non-traditional) natives are believe this, but shamen are hyper-aware of the spirit realm. They can often communicate with spirits, especially those whom they knew in life, or relatives, mentors, etc. Most learn their craft from their mothers, or grandmothers (for women), and the teachings are carried in families, or clans. It often covers pretty mundane things, like knowing the plants that can be used for healing, and so on. This is more than like what is in a herb book (take this for that), but they will make complicated compounds of many plants, depending on what is wrong with the person. The medicines are also individual. The shaman will sit with you, and look at your skin, and your tongue, and so on, and listen to you. It takes a good while, often over a cup of tea, before the shaman will even do anyth
