In 2004 while I was learning how to listen to myself and remembering who I am, I spent the summer on the ‘pow wow trail’ just ‘being’. I met some new friends and became reacquainted with friends I hadn’t seen in a while. I do not remember exactly how this happened but I had asked […]
So what the heck is a bear ceremony I wondered? And what does it have to do with me? Once again, I had no clue as to how this one ceremony was going to influence my journey. ‘The Cleansing Winds’ illustrates when I realized that Ron Indian-Mandamin was the correct individual to conduct the ‘Ceremony […]
Albert Mandamin of Shoal Lake provided guidance to me to invite specific Elders to attend this gathering which was honouring spring. I received a small amount of funding through primarily two organizations to support the travel and accommodations of these Elders. One of the Elders that I invited was Albert’s nephew Ron Indian-Mandamin who has […]
I am sure that the Creator was giggling to Herself as She watched me struggle with erecting my first teaching lodge. This first lodge definitely wasn’t even or very straight. When I look back at pictures now I have to giggle and shudder a little. I am gentle with myself though. As Oprah would say, […]
Following that Fall Ceremony in 2006, I spent a lot of time talking on the phone with Albert about my dreams and aspirations and my hunger to learn about our precious Ojibwe culture. I learned to appreciate his humour and poking fun at me. That was his way. He never treated me any different than […]
My youngest daughter and I were attending a Fall Ceremony in 2006 at Anishnawbe Mushkiki to feast the changing of the seasons and feast our sacred items. We were inside the round cedar lodge housed within the industrial type building accommodating the Anishnaabek[1] Health Access Centre. This is a very beautiful lodge which marks the […]
I started seeing her about ten years ago. She appeared to me three times before I understood what the significance of the sightings was. I saw her on the short regional road between Highway 129 just past Chapleau on my way to the Sultan logging road. She was on the left side of the road, […]
More than eleven years ago, I suffered an emotional episode (they used to call it a nervous breakdown). At the time, I thought it was because of the termination of a relationship. Of course today I know better. When we don’t listen to those messages that we are receiving every day, the universe will send […]
Please let me introduce myself and inform the Creator who is sharing these thoughts: Memashkegaabowek ndizhinikaaz (My Spiritual Name is Standing Strong). Adik ndoodem (My Clan is Caribou). This is actually my second Spirit name and I will be retelling the story of how I received my first Spirit name in 2003 in an upcoming […]