Sharing generations of knowledge At Serpent River First Nation Community between Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Isabelle Meawasige and Blain Commanda informed us about Ojibwe traditions. Together, we visited the five-metrehigh ceremonial tipi and sweat lodge at their Place of Healing on the tranquil, forested shore of Lake Huron’s North Channel. “We hold healing weekends here,” said Isabelle. “In order for us to heal Mother Earth of the damage done to her by cutting trees and digging mines, we need to have a cleansing. You use saunas for physical cleansing,” she noted. “We use sweat lodges for physical and spiritual cleansing.” Blain explained that a sweat lodge is a turtle-shaped frame covered with a carpet, tarps and blankets. “Inside, we fill a pit with hot rocks heated in a spirit fire outside. Other than wood, the only things that go into a spirit fire are tobacco, cedar, sage or sweet grass.” Isabelle described what happens inside the sweat lodge. “After putting sage and cedar medicine water on the hot rocks, we close the door. We pray to the east, sing a song and then open the door to bring in more hot rocks. Again, we repeat the praying and singing, facing the remaining three directions.” Isabelle and Blain patiently answered our questions. When the topic shifted to medicinal herbs, they invited us to join them on a walk. We trailed Blain, as he sure-footedly and swiftly climbed over rocks, ducked under branches and crouched down to examine the ground to show us some golden thread. Isabelle explained that plants are spiritual beings in Native culture. “If we’re going to harvest a plant, we first offer tobacco in exchange for taking its life.” Blain poured some tobacco into our palms and instructed us to deposit it into the earth before we picked the small green plant. As we extracted the plant, a long golden root followed. “We sell it by the inch to treat canker sores and stomach problems,” he said. Isabelle showed us another plant – used as a heart medicine – which grows around the base of spruce trees. Afterwards, she invited us into her home to see her collection of dried herbs, neatly bagged and labelled. Pointing to some books on herbs, she explained: “We’re still learning by reading, by listening to knowledge-keepers (our Elders) and by sharing information with other Nations during pow wows.” Isabelle introduced us to her sister, Arnelda Jacobs (who has since sadly passed away). “Basket weaving is a traditional craft,” said Arnelda, showing us some black ash baskets which she had made. “Legends tell us that the Creator told a chief, in a dream, that his starving people would survive if they made baskets from black ash trees. Following instructions from the dream, they wove baskets and traded them for food.” As we admired the fine workmanship, Arnelda explained: “I teach the craft to other women – how to find the trees, peel off and pound the layers, cut and dye the strips and weave them into baskets.” We were touched by the openness and willingness of Arnelda, Isabelle and Blain to share their knowledge. CSANews | SUMMER 2024 | 17 Travel
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