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Naomi Walser

Ojibwe Translations:

Boozhoo - Original man (Nana "boozhoo)
Shkakmi kwe - Mother Earth

K-chi mnido - The Creator (Gitchi Manitoy)
Nishnaabek - Aboriginal people (The Colonized)
Zhoon yaa - Money

Miigwech - Thank-you

A Day in the Life of an Elder

“Boozhoo, Wauba nungo Kwe deznekaz Wabashoshi dodem
Chimnising ndoonjaba.”

Hello my name is Morning Star. I come from Christian Island, and
belong to the Martin Clan. I am going to tell the story of how many
moons ago our way of life was interrupted.

I'am told that this dark time came to us over fifty generations ago.
Before then we lived very similar to the way we do now, except our
Shkakmi Kwe looked very different. Our Shkakmi Kwe is beautiful
today, but then, the waters were clear, the air was pure, and the earth
seemed to go on forever,

When our new found brothers arrived from across the water it is
said that they thought they had discovered a New World. Sure — we
may laugh at that thought today, but our First Nations were in grave
danger for a very long time. Our relatives in all four directions were
affected. Life became uncivilized. It seemed as though hatred was felt
for our Shkakmi Kwe. Destruction and despair were in store, masking
her natural vigor. We tried to share ideas, but we were demanded to
abide by these deceiving ways, or places very similar to the “Legend
of the Residential School” would be our new home. We were to be
deprived of everything that we know today.

When we connect with the K-chi mnido ceremoniously, it is a
celebration of life. These traditions are very dear to us, and we use
them everyday. They are a part of everything we do in life, wedding
ceremonies, purification ceremonies, all the way to naming
ceremonies. Our “give-aways” or “potlatches™ are practiced to unite
our people. The guests are family and friends who we care about, and
the guest of honour is to give away gifts to all invited. Redistribution

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