Dr. Patrisia Gonzales assistant professor in the Department of Mexican American Studies, Native American Research and Training Center at  teh University of Arizona, showcased “Red Medicine Traditional Indigenous Rites of Birthing and Healing” on March 27, 2014.

Gonzales spoke about the process of the healing ceremonies and how they can truly heal a person through a spiritual connection within themselves.

There are a few different forms of the healing, a main role in it is the four elements. The ceremonial pot has the elements of air and land, the smoke from the burning tobacco is the air and the clay pot is the land. The candles that are set around symbolize the sun and the water used equal all the elements.

She explained how the ability to do healing is inherited and comes from a lineage, that one is born to heal, it doesn’t just come to you it comes from a line of ancestors.

“I come from a great line of personal healers,” Gonzales said.

Gonzales also spoke of “an unseen world” and stated that through dreams you can access knowledge. Dreams and time as medicine can give you a gaining of sacred insight and sight. “The unseen part of Native American Medicine is what is astonishing,” she said.

During the event, Gonzales also spoke about how her Native American ancestors went through torture for their beliefs.

“Up to a million women were burned at the stake for being called witches by churches and priests,” Gonzales said.

They were persecuted for their teachings.

“When the Europeans came they Christianized us and passed us around,” Gonzales said.

In todays modern age, the customs might have slightly changed, some healers charge for their ceremonial healings, Gonzales said.

“The elders who taught me never charged,” she said. “I feel that no one should.”