Shima

Shima is an proud elderly woman who comes from Locota - Souix American heritage. She wears a weathered face and yet her compassion shines through. She is short in height and rather round. Her hair is pulled back and she wears a traditional hairpiece, her demeanor is plain.
    
Shima's home is a cave in a hillside outside of Suntown, about five miles to the west. Her dwelling is meticulously clean and tidy, and it is quite plainly comfortable. Few things adorn her walls except for photos of family and items used in her healing ceremony.

She is known around that part of what used to be called west Texas as the one who cures through the spirit, and she has quite a reputation of respect and modesty. She regards the ceremony as being a very private affair, yet it is understood that one may attend and take part if they are sincere in their want for completeness of the one to be healed.

The healing ceremony is of the utmost reverence. The steady beat of Shima's leather drum keeps time to the ancient prayer songs that are in her native tongue. All who are present are invited to join in with the singing and to share their prayers with the group. She emphasizes the importance of everyone in the group being true in their prayers and offerings, of letting their mind and spirit go with the great spirit that will be at hand, and most of all, having faith in the healing force that unfolds during the ceremony. She is the soft spoken leader in those times, she is the foundation of spiritual sureness, she is the definition of humility,and when she speaks, you get a sense that she has known you for a long, long time. Her experience is vast and the ritual has been handed down from generations past.

When Shima is in the spirit, she moves in an energetic frenzied fashion as she works to relieve the earth trapped spirit that is needing to be sent back to it's heavenly home. There is lots of spewing of Shima's breadth as she frees the tortured spirit out of the body. Cigarettes are given to all attending, even to those who do not smoke. The smoke is shared by all in the group so the spirit is able to visit each of the bodies present, it is a common thread that each one shares with each other and with the earth. The setting is smokey, and the smoke escapes through a hole at the top of Shima's cave.

Ceremonial tokens are set out in the ritual fashion. Shima's collection of certain feathers, rocks, clay bowls, patches of leather, pieces of wood are deemed to be sacred as they are used in the ceremony. These are arranged in the particular way that has been handed down through the ages. As these things are laid out, they are blessed, and treated with gentleness.