7 Teachings, 7 Animals, 7 Words to Live By

 

I first learned about the 7 Sacred Teachings when one of the teachers at North Star School (who was also a part of the congregation of Riverview United) in Atikokan was doing the illustrations for this book. Kristy was actually Sarah’s teacher for Senior Kindergarten and she was really excited to come home on the first day of school and say that her teacher “is an illustrator!” because Kristy was just finishing up the pictures for this book. The book has text in both English and Ojibwe. When it came out every student in the school got a copy of the book – so we should have two copies but at present I have only located one. (you can see Kristy's illustrations here)

To be honest in fact pretty much all I know of what is meant by the 7 Sacred Teachings in indigenous culture comes from flipping through this book. To really learn about how they are understood in any of the Indigenous communities across the country one would best be served by talking to an Elder, or more importantly listening to an Elder.

The teachings themselves are words common to our culture as well: humility, honesty, respect, courage, wisdom, truth, and love. These are qualities that many cultures would find important, even sacred, as we learn how to live together. In Indigenous tradition the teachings are each tied to an animal: Wolf, Kitchi-Sabe or Raven (the book names both), Buffalo, Bear, Beaver, Turtle, and Eagle. You can find these in posters hanging in the sanctuary or the Friendship Room.

As I said, these teachings are common to multiple cultures. It is always, I believe, helpful to learn what meaning they have to different cultures. The same words can have different connotations in different places. As named in the preface, this book addresses the teachings using “many of the beliefs of the Ojibwe/Chippewa/Anishnaabe”. The peoples of this part of Turtle Island might have slightly different understanding even though the teachings have great universality.

Over the next several newsletters we will be invited to reflect on these seven words, seven teachings, seven qualities that build a healthy life. What do they mean to you? What do they mean to our neighbours? How do we live them out? How do they shape who we are?

I will have the book in my office for any who want to take a closer look – or listen as it comes with a DVD as well.

--Gord