Summary of Girl's Rite of Passage | National Geographic

The video "Girl's Rite of Passage" from National Geographic explores the Coming of Age ritual of the Mescalero Apache reservation in New Mexico, specifically focusing on a 13-year-old girl named Dashina Cois. The ceremony spans four days and is designed to prepare young girls for the challenges of womanhood through tests of strength, endurance, and character.

Key Scientific Concepts and Cultural Phenomena:

Rite of Passage: A significant ceremony marking the transition from childhood to adulthood, particularly for girls in the Mescalero Apache culture.
Cultural Significance of Rituals: The ritual is deeply rooted in Apache traditions and reflects the community's values and beliefs.
Symbolism of Elements:
- Pollen: Represents fertility and is used to bless the participants.
- White Clay: Symbolizes the goddess and is used in the final stages of the ceremony.
- Sacred Teepee: A structure built by male relatives that serves as a spiritual and ceremonial space.

Methodology of the Ceremony:

Preparation: Dashina's family, especially her mother, prepares for over a year for the ceremony, which includes feeding and caring for guests.
Instruction: Dashina is guided by a medicine woman, Zelda Yazza, who teaches her about traditional Apache womanhood.
Stages of Life: The ceremony encapsulates the Apache creation story and involves moving through the stages of life: infant, child, adolescent, and woman.
Ceremonial Activities:
- Blessing with pollen.
- Running toward the Rising Sun while circling a sacred basket.
- Dancing beside a ceremonial fire for over 10 hours.
- Praying to the Mountain Spirits for a successful life.

Conclusion:

At the end of the four-day ceremony, Dashina is given her Apache woman's name, "Morning Star Feather," signifying her transition into womanhood. The community acknowledges her achievement, emphasizing the importance of cultural renewal and the preservation of traditions that are at risk of disappearing.

Featured Researchers/Sources:

National Geographic
Zelda Yazza (Medicine Woman)
Dashina Cois (Participant)
Mallette (Dashina's Mother)

Notable Quotes

— 04:05 — « Everything went well; she's just going to be a strong woman. »

— 04:32 — « As an Apache woman, Dash serves as a symbol of her culture, renewing and protecting a way of life that's in danger of vanishing. »