My grandfather taught me the burial songs but he made me promise never to sing them for anyone who converted to Christianity and now my devoutly Christian aunt is dying and asking for the old songs.
More people experience this than they realize.
The promises we make to the dead create ethical dilemmas with the living, where honoring one sacred commitment means betraying another.
“Where Are You with Indigenous grief ceremonies?”
If this sounds familiar, the Library can help you find the bigger picture.