Becoming a Shaman or Doctor

Although either men or women of the tribes could become a Shaman or doctor, according to Mrs. Ludson, in the Alsea tribe women Shamans were more common. A young person who showed heightened "powers" of prediction or knowledge of spirit animals might be a candidate to become a Shaman.
One of the main reasons for becoming a Shaman or doctor of the tribe was the wealth they earned. They earned wealth, in the form of dentalia, or slaves or other goods; by healing, killing, providing good or bad luck and training others to be Shamans. A drawback to becoming a Shaman was the risk. A Shaman might be sickened or killed by a spell gone bad--or the revengeful family of a victim.

The training process for a

A Shaman might be sickened or killed by a spell gone bad--or the revengeful family of a victim.

prospective Shaman included going out in the woods at night. They would spend the night hoping to see a spirit in their dreams. This spirit would tell the prospective Shaman of a task they wanted taken care of. The spirit could be in the shape of wolves (which were very powerful spirits) or, more conimonly; birds, many types of other animals or even people.
Often, prospective Shamans started their training at a young age. They would go out in the forest and

A gift sack was sent around during dances to collect payment for the Shaman.

dream for many nights. Their dreams were of their guardian spirit (sol hut ho) and of another spirit which would instruct them.
At times a prospective Shaman could have several different guardian spirits. Most of the time there would be one major guardian spirit. Mter the prospective Shaman had dreamed and knew what a spirit had instructed her to do, she became a novice.
Being a novice was like a half-way point in becoming a true Shaman. The novice would be put to tests. Some of the tests might be to follow the requests of their instructive spirit. Often a novice would gather with a group of Shamans and would dance for three or four nights. During this time of dancing, the shamans would throw pains at the novice and test his or her strength.
During the instructional period the novice will hear how to call his or her guardian spirit. The novice would also work as an apprentice, assisting a Shaman in curing, killing or hurting someone. The novices didn't have to be paid, but if the family hiring the

Shaman wanted they could pay the assistant as well as the Shaman. Once a novice had cured, killed or hurt someone he became a true Shaman or doctor.
Though there were some people who had the powers of a shaman without being trained, these people had a hard time controlling their powers. The informant, Mrs. Ludson, told a story of a young man who had powers but hadn't been trained. His woman became sick, so the young man placed his hand on her body. The pain from the woman went into the young man. He didn't know what to do with the pain. Finally, all the pain went into his body and killed him.

A guardian spirit was used to advise the Shaman.