KUSHAPATSHIKAN

[Native American] The shaking tent was one of the most important rituals in the yearly cycle of harvesting and ritual activities of the Innu people of Quebec and Labrador. It was not only an important method of direct communication with the caribou and other animal masters, as well as with Mishtapeu and cannibal spirits, it was also a source of amusement. The shaman used the tent to look into the hidden world of animal spirits, and to make contact with Innu in distant groups. On occasion, he brought the atshaku of people living in other groups into this tent, or waged terrible battles there with other shamans and cannibal spirits such as Atshen.