Setting Common
Goals…
The concern and discussion over how the native cultures are
slowly dying out has been a focal point within my
circle of friends so many
times, but the
question I ask myself
is how much of the culture still
exists? I might be coming from a different perspective, because I
don’t live on a
reservation and never have, nor
have I experienced the
deep pain suffered by
many who were gathered up, then
placed into the residential
schools. So each time I am amazed with what I experience during an event
that includes some of the old
traditions.
I am
Metis and from the East Coast New
Brunswick, Canada, my ancestors
lived along the
St. John River. They hunted, fished
and moved around a
lot but the one
thing most important
to them was
their little community of family
and friends. They
depended on each other
for survival, and each
member had a purpose. They never refused to share with
each, and came together in a crisis. They had a great sense of cooperation and gave freely to
those who were in need.
Throughout my
life I have
been in constant contact
with natives and
even though assimilation has
taken its toll on the communities
and the
reservations, The one thing that
dominates throughout each
one of these communities
are the teachings passed down
to each new generation.
They might vary from nation
to nation, and tribe
to tribe but
they are there, which is
what has made a difference. These teachings
are what has allowed us to survive
through hundreds of years of
genocide and oppression, and is
what has given us the determination to
continue to fight for our
rights as people. These teachings are also
what can unite us and
keep us united which can in
return alter the direction of
our future.
Early in August I attended a four
day spiritual event
at the Madawaska Maliseet First
Nation reserve in the province of
New Brunswick, Canada.
This community is an example to
follow in terms of
economic development, but the
question arose about coming
together and celebrating
their Inauguration of a Sacred Ground…an event
that made history.
A lot of work
was put into the
preparations And it was hot, I
had arrived a few
days before and
helped in any way I could. It
was clear to me that
the seven teachings of the Maliseet people
were very much
a part of
this small community . Like I
said earlier, I was amazed at what I
witnessed, especially with the
amount of pressure everyone
was under to make
this event come
alive. Each person was busy doing
a task, but there was harmony and a sense of joy even in the hot sun!
We were nearing the
final touches fixing
up the venue
when a large and powerful thunder
storm hit. The wind was strong and
the rain was pouring down
with such force that the Medicine
Wheel tent which took an entire day
to erect was in danger
of being ripped apart …or blown away. Not a
single soul hesitated, and
like magic everyone grabbed a
pole, or part of the tarp
and held on tight. When I looked
around at the people
soaking wet, and no
one had a look of discontent on their faces…there was
a need for unity
and we all came
together and did what was needed
to salvage what we
could. Another amazing
and unexplained thing happened, and
it’s something you just don’t
see every day. It made
me understand once
again how special for every native community to
have a Sacred Ground, and
that these grounds are dedicated in respect
of our ancestors. Each time
the drums and singing started, within the first
minute three Eagles appeared
and flew over us
in a circle and
disappeared.
Those seven teachings are that of Truth, Love, Respect,
Courage, Honesty, Humility and Wisdom. I felt them
all during my stay
in that community. I saw the
truth come alive
during that storm ,
I witnessed respect, courage,
honesty, and wisdom
in the way these
people came together
eventually to make this Inauguration the success
it was…but most important I felt the love
and kindness. This might
have been unique to
this community, but in
the past I have been witness
to these teachings in other
native communities I have
visited. It is important to
understand that although
we might get discouraged and sometimes
frustrated at the lack
of progress and
not seeing much
justice, we cannot
allow ourselves to forget
that we have the potential to
survive, and we have
survived some of the
worst oppression known but
we must remember
to remain united under
the teaching left to us
by our ancestors, and from the Creator…if we
forget, and cannot see that these
teachings are inborn
or part of who we are…we will
perish!
Claudia Julien (Iewiraneh)
