Traditional Knowledge

Skywoman

A hole opens from skyworld with a stream of light beaming down. Like a maple seed skywoman fell towards the water. The animals see her slowly falling and the geese fly up to catch her, however, the geese could not hold her forever so the council of all animals was called to figure out how to help her. A great turtle floats to the surface and volunteers his back for her to rest upon. The animals understanding she needs land to live upon remember the mud they have heard of under the water. Loon dives first to try to get the mud but fails, beaver, otter, and sturgeon all try and have the same result. Last to try was muskrat, the weakest diver, the rest of the animals worried then see muskrat float to the top of the water, he had given his life for skywoman and the animals were all sad until they realized muskrat succeeded! Turtle offers to hold the mud on his back, skywoman reaches down and spreads the mud across his back. Moved by the animals gifts to her skywoman started singing and dancing her thanksgiving, the more she danced the more the land grew! Like any good guest should be skywoman came with gifts from the tree of life that grew in skyworld, she then took care of the plants as they grew on this new land we now call home. With plants and food animals came to join her on the land too!

Nanabozho

Nanabozho, the original man, had the instructions to walk through the earth that Skywoman created, in a way that each step would be a greeting to Mother Earth.

To fulfil these instructions Nanabozho began his journey walking toward the East or Wabunong, where the day began. He was worried as he began his journey about how he could get food because he was getting hungry. He remembered his original instructions and understood all the knowledge he needed was present in the land created by Skywoman. Walking East Nanabozho received the lesson that Mother Earth is our wisest teacher. We thank the East today as the direction of knowledge, giving us the chance to learn everyday!

Zhawanong or South was where Nanabozho continued his journey. Heading south he met kizhig or cedar, the sacred plant of the south, who shared her teachings with Nanabozho. He carried her with him to remind himself that to be indigenous is to protect life on earth. The south is the land of birth and growth, where Nanabozho learned and now teaches us to learn from our older brothers and sisters of the world, the plants and animals.

Next he headed North, where the medicine teachers were found. These teachers gave Nanabozho Wiingaashk,  or sweetgrass to teach him the ways of compassion, kindness and healing, even for those who have made bad mistakes because we all have made mistakes. Sweetgrass when in a long braid, offers protection to a traveler so Nanabozho put some in his bag. This path scented with the smell of sweetgrass leads to a landscape of forgiveness and healing for all who need it.

Finally, Nanabozho turned to the West. On this last journey, he found many things that frightened him. He saw great fires destroy the land and the Earth shook below his feet. Here in the west he found mshkodewashk or sage, the sacred plant of the west who was there to help him and wash away fear. On Nanabozho's journey to the west the Firekeeper came to meet him telling him how the fire he sees destroying the land is the same fire that warms his lodge and to teach him that all powers have to sides, the power to create and destroy, and how we must recognize both sides of the powers but invest our gifts on the side of creation. Here in the west is where Nanabozho learned he had a twin brother. His twin was the destructive side of Nanabozho's power to create. After finding out about his brother Nanabozho vowed to walk with humility to balance his destructive twins arrogance.

We all need to learn to walk like Nanabozho. To learn from the land, to protect life, to forgive, and to have humility.