WIIJI'ISHINAAM onji AGWANIIGIBIJIGAN
Donation protected
boozhoo:
mukwa Oday n'dizhinikaaz.. omaa DESHKAAN ZIIBING ezhinikaadeg ingoding n'babaa-ayaa, zhigwa n'babaa-wiiji'aag igiw n'dinawemaaganag!!
hello:
my name is Mukwa Oday (bear heart..) here at DESHKAAN ZIIBIING (Chippewa of the Thames First Nations) as it is known, i come around here from time to time, and at times i also come around and help out with those my family!!
Over two decades ago, i came to the SWOntario area, looking for that lil paper that would make me Bachelor of Arts-proof, and smarter-er. little did i know that the Spirit, GIZHE-MANIDO, would guide my "educational" goals in another direction, where i was able to understand more about WHO I WAS, and WHO I AM TODAY: an ANISHINAABE NINI (an ojibwe man), knowing MY SPIRIT NAME, MY SPIRIT CLAN and my PURPOSE.
(by the way, i attained my Academic goal: BA in English, Masters in Professional Indigenous Education, and am in pursuit of a BEd still..)
always grateful to my South Western Ontario Midewiwin People, also known as the SWOMP, they became my family. my strong aunties, Mary Deleary and Dr. Carol Hopkins, always helping in guiding me with encouragement (along with many other AUNTIES); my uncles, Dr. James Dumont, Dr. Edward Benton-Banai (again, along with many other UNCLES) ever-encouraging my growth and understanding the MIDEWIWIN LODGE, especially of the THREE FIRES MIDEWIWIN LODGE.
my LODGE (and my own BLOOD) nephews and my nieces, whom show me what it means to be an UNCLE; my fellow LODGE sisters and brothers, who i continue to laugh with, to work side by side with, and enjoy a good visit with also..
In the Spring of 2019, the SWOMP community got together to build our own MIDEWIWIN TEACHING LODGE (taught/shared by our Grand Chief, Dr. Edward Benton-Banai), where we would utilize the Lodge for many various ceremonies in the beautiful lands on Chippewa of the Thames First Nations.
With the help, and the great enthusiasm, of our Lodge nephews, nieces, sons & daughters, we were able to harvest our MAPLE enaatigoog POLES; always careful and always respectful to our Mother Earth. That APRIL 2019, we were proud of our MIDEWIWIN TEACHING LODGE, and had a beautiful SPRING FASTING CEREMONY there, where many of the MIDE YOUTH, along with community youth, shared their FASTING experiences/dreams..
The SWOMP continue to utilize the grounds, and the Teaching Lodge, throughout the summer. and, we were just beginning to talk of FALL FASTING CAMP for this OCTOBER 2019, inviting our Eastern Doorway Chief, Dr. Jim Dumont, and those who would like to FAST upon our Mother Earth.
However, this past weekend, as we, the SWOMP, get busy, busy, busying with our MIDEWIWIN work which spans throughout the SWOntario area, into Michigan and the surrounding the Great Lakes (sometimes), we had discovered that MIDEWIWIN TEACHING LODGE had been burnt.
Our over $12,000 customized tarp had also been burnt, along with a few of the ENAATIGOOG (maple poles) that made our LODGE, leaving a charred and melted tarp, and structure.
Our story/pics had made it to the FACEBOOK page, only meant to show our SWOMP family; however, as our THREE FIRES MIDEWIWIN family is vast, spanning the GREAT LAKES and further, our extended family continued to SHARE this posts in devastation, in hurt, and in sadden.
CBC Indigenous reached out, getting our thoughts/perspectives; a Radio Station in Kahnewake also wanted an interview; along with CTV London to get more insights.
BUT! i will REMIND YOUS: WE ARE ANISHINAABE! WE ARE RESILIENT! and, WE WILL REBUILD, for today, for the FUTURE, learning from those in the PAST!
with encouragement (again from my SWOMP family), we are receiving a lot of our fellow ANISHINAABE families from all over, along with many others scholars/councils/city officials/those who've met a few of our SWOMP family, who are wishing to send their DONATIONS! well, here it is: a GO FUND ME page!
gichi-miigwech g'dinigoom GIINAWAA waa-WIIJI'IWEYEG!!
(a big HEARTED thank you, we say to you's, for WANTING to HELP!!)
mukwa Oday n'dizhinikaaz.. omaa DESHKAAN ZIIBING ezhinikaadeg ingoding n'babaa-ayaa, zhigwa n'babaa-wiiji'aag igiw n'dinawemaaganag!!
hello:
my name is Mukwa Oday (bear heart..) here at DESHKAAN ZIIBIING (Chippewa of the Thames First Nations) as it is known, i come around here from time to time, and at times i also come around and help out with those my family!!
Over two decades ago, i came to the SWOntario area, looking for that lil paper that would make me Bachelor of Arts-proof, and smarter-er. little did i know that the Spirit, GIZHE-MANIDO, would guide my "educational" goals in another direction, where i was able to understand more about WHO I WAS, and WHO I AM TODAY: an ANISHINAABE NINI (an ojibwe man), knowing MY SPIRIT NAME, MY SPIRIT CLAN and my PURPOSE.
(by the way, i attained my Academic goal: BA in English, Masters in Professional Indigenous Education, and am in pursuit of a BEd still..)
always grateful to my South Western Ontario Midewiwin People, also known as the SWOMP, they became my family. my strong aunties, Mary Deleary and Dr. Carol Hopkins, always helping in guiding me with encouragement (along with many other AUNTIES); my uncles, Dr. James Dumont, Dr. Edward Benton-Banai (again, along with many other UNCLES) ever-encouraging my growth and understanding the MIDEWIWIN LODGE, especially of the THREE FIRES MIDEWIWIN LODGE.
my LODGE (and my own BLOOD) nephews and my nieces, whom show me what it means to be an UNCLE; my fellow LODGE sisters and brothers, who i continue to laugh with, to work side by side with, and enjoy a good visit with also..
In the Spring of 2019, the SWOMP community got together to build our own MIDEWIWIN TEACHING LODGE (taught/shared by our Grand Chief, Dr. Edward Benton-Banai), where we would utilize the Lodge for many various ceremonies in the beautiful lands on Chippewa of the Thames First Nations.
With the help, and the great enthusiasm, of our Lodge nephews, nieces, sons & daughters, we were able to harvest our MAPLE enaatigoog POLES; always careful and always respectful to our Mother Earth. That APRIL 2019, we were proud of our MIDEWIWIN TEACHING LODGE, and had a beautiful SPRING FASTING CEREMONY there, where many of the MIDE YOUTH, along with community youth, shared their FASTING experiences/dreams..
The SWOMP continue to utilize the grounds, and the Teaching Lodge, throughout the summer. and, we were just beginning to talk of FALL FASTING CAMP for this OCTOBER 2019, inviting our Eastern Doorway Chief, Dr. Jim Dumont, and those who would like to FAST upon our Mother Earth.
However, this past weekend, as we, the SWOMP, get busy, busy, busying with our MIDEWIWIN work which spans throughout the SWOntario area, into Michigan and the surrounding the Great Lakes (sometimes), we had discovered that MIDEWIWIN TEACHING LODGE had been burnt.
Our over $12,000 customized tarp had also been burnt, along with a few of the ENAATIGOOG (maple poles) that made our LODGE, leaving a charred and melted tarp, and structure.
Our story/pics had made it to the FACEBOOK page, only meant to show our SWOMP family; however, as our THREE FIRES MIDEWIWIN family is vast, spanning the GREAT LAKES and further, our extended family continued to SHARE this posts in devastation, in hurt, and in sadden.
CBC Indigenous reached out, getting our thoughts/perspectives; a Radio Station in Kahnewake also wanted an interview; along with CTV London to get more insights.
BUT! i will REMIND YOUS: WE ARE ANISHINAABE! WE ARE RESILIENT! and, WE WILL REBUILD, for today, for the FUTURE, learning from those in the PAST!
with encouragement (again from my SWOMP family), we are receiving a lot of our fellow ANISHINAABE families from all over, along with many others scholars/councils/city officials/those who've met a few of our SWOMP family, who are wishing to send their DONATIONS! well, here it is: a GO FUND ME page!
gichi-miigwech g'dinigoom GIINAWAA waa-WIIJI'IWEYEG!!
(a big HEARTED thank you, we say to you's, for WANTING to HELP!!)
Organizer
Mario Wassaykeesic
Organizer
London, ON
