Miinkaanesan Seeds When we look at new trees coming up, we’re just so amazed at how powerful their roots are and how powerful the land is in their memory and natural instruction from Creator. Their purpose is to find light and no matter where the seed is, the seed’s purpose is to find light. It reaches all the way through everything—the channels of the rock, the channels of the old wood, all the way through those channels—to find that light, and that light of the Sky Nation, that light of the sun. That’s its instructions. That’s its goal. When we see plants come out from rocks or even manmade concrete, they’ll crack that concrete to find the light. They know their instructions and nothing can hold them back. When we see cities or old towns, abandoned, the plants will bring life and light back to that place. We can look at the town that looks destitute, but fail to see the plants that are there bringing light. The teaching we learn from this is that amidst our healing journey, sometimes we are so focused on the darkness, that state of depression that we’re in, and we feel locked down and stuck, but knowing that when we are feeling buried in the darkness, all we have to keep doing is reaching for that light. Keep reaching for that light and there will be that new life. Mishoomis Mitig Grandfather Tree (Referring to May photo.) This Grandfather tree is dying, but it will not leave until it knows that that younger one growing beside him has established a root system strong enough to be able to be on its own. Those younger ones, saplings, have the drive, the energy of the youth and they’re so determined and full of life, but always needing the guidance of our Elders to help ground them because sometimes they just want to run. They just want to run with all of their ideas and enthusiasm, but it’s those older ones that remind them to take their steps with intention. The teaching is about celebrating our youth, while remembering the importance of the Elders guiding them, giving them that foundation, that wisdom, and reminding them to make sure that their steps have intentions—and to walk carefully. A word we use in ceremonies is Aangwaamzin. Aangwaamzin means be careful. Now in our ceremonies, that word is often used because yes, be careful, but be determined. Be determined in what it is that we are doing, move forward, continue to move forward, but do it carefully. Jiibikenhan Roots The roots help remind us of the importance of having a good foundation in everything that we do. When we have a strong belief system, it helps to ground us and keep us anchored, ensuring that we will be able to withstand those storms that may come in our path, making sure that we are rooted to our Earth Mother. We often hear the word reciprocity, making certain that we’re always giving back in everything that we receive. We’re always giving back and when we think about the root system, reciprocity is a word we hear. One of the roles as Anishinaabe people that we were given was to be the guardians and the caretakers of the Earth because she is forever taking care of us and making sure that we have everything that we need in our walk here in this place, in this space, and when we give back to her, she will make sure that we have strong words. Tree beings speak to each other through their roots. That that is how their voices travel. That is how they nurture each other. They are a community and teach of how we are all connected.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTM1OTY=