Walking Spirit in a Native Way

Honouring those that honour you! by James B. Beard, author     anishinaabe water walkers Authors note: The feeling I had as I watched the people pack and leave the ceremonial area after Spring Ceremonies in Manitoulan Island.   They are going home today!   They came to visit with the people honouring them. On the first night they visited some of the people in the ode swan / sweat-lodge, and helped the people to heal. The next morning 🌅 the people gathered to greet the sun and a new day. A new 🆕 day, a new beginning. They were pleased to see all the people gathered to honour them. There would be much work for them to do to help the people. They listened to the prayers and intentions of the people and were happy. As the ishkode 🔥/ fire awoke, they came to stand amongst the people. They watched as the people worked to make preparations to ask for renewal and oshkibimadzwin🧬 / new life. All the people did, was to honour them and prepare, they the people, for renewal...

  Awhile back I received a call from a woman in Southern New Hampshire. She wanted to know if I would do a memorial service for her son.  She explained to me that her son had been killed in a drug related shoot out about a year before and that she was seeking closure. Her son was part Micmac, and she wanted a ceremony done in a more traditional indigenous way. I referred her to an Elder, but the Elder declined for health reasons. The Elder then suggested that I do the ceremony for her son. I told her I would do it but would need to meet her and her family before any ceremony to make sure we were on the same page. She invited me to come to her home for dinner and to talk, as well as meet the family. The day I arrived at her home I was greeted at the door by her and her seven-year-old daughter. Before I stepped in the door her daughter looked up and said, "you are the one who is going to do ceremony for my brother.". I answered that I was and she asked' "what is ceremo...