Happy New Year!!!!!
from Cindy Crowe
Last Updated January 4, 2007
Real Name:
Cindy
Eve Crowe (nee Chaboyer)
Nicknames:
MOM, Sheryl Crow
From:
Lake Helen First Nation (Red Rock)
Occupation:
Consultant for my own business - Cindy Crowe Consulting
Hobbies:
Pow Wows, Hockey, Walking, Traveling, etc.
Life's Passion:
Development of “Blue
Sky Teaching Lodge”
Dipping my toes in Gulf of Mexico
South Padre Island, Texas
Across the border in Mexico
checking out some deals.....lol
Okay....this was too nice.....Virginia's Beauty Salon
in Port Isabel, Texas
My one and only grand nephew.....Griffen
Agawa by Sault Ste. Marie, summer 2006
me, mom, my oldest daughter Cynthia and my sister Sandra
Spring, 2006
me, Joe and mom
at the Howard Johnson, South Padre Island, TX
on top of Mount McKay
(the very top)
THE FOUNDATION OF THE RED MANS SPIRITUALITY
The foundation of the red mans spirituality is a firm belief in the Great Spirit; and the understanding that everything alive on Mother Earth has a spirit which is the essence of the life force of the Great Spirit. Ones purpose is made clearer and strengthened by having a close relationship with the Great Spirit. This relationship is achieved through many practices of ceremony (i.e. the sundance; sweat lodge; vision quest; pipe ceremonies; feasts; giveaways; sacred teaching lodges and many more.) Through sacred practices one learns of the importance of spirituality in life. Spiritual understanding identifies our human purpose in this world.
The teachings of Mother Earth are also a very important part of who we are as Anishinabe.
We are taught that we all originated from the EARTH, that the Earth is the great mother to all. She provides everything we need in order to survive in this life, the clothing, shelter, medicines, food and water. Within the land there are many different teachings, this is where we learn about the natural and spiritual laws of our people. In order to learn on how we should conduct ourselves on the earth, all we have to do is connect with the land (spend time on the land; watch how the natural world works.) For example the elders tell us to look at the tree, the tree is connected to the land, the tree only takes what it needs in order to survive and it gives back to the earth. This is how we should conduct ourselves on the land, we should only take what we need in order to sustain ourselves and always give back something in return.
THE SEVEN SACRED LAWS OF THE ANISHINABE
The Anishinabe were given seven sacred laws that were to act as a spiritual foundation.
These laws offered direction for anyone wishing to have a balanced and peaceful life. Each law was represented by an animal. This representation was to help keep the Anishinabe connected to nature. Watching the animal world offered the Anishinabe teachings that kept him\her in balance with the natural laws. The animal world taught the Anishinabe how to live close to the earth and reminded him\her of his /her close connection to nature. Indigenous people spent thousands of years evolving with that close connection. They understood that respect for all life ensured a continued abundance of what was needed to live and survive.
LOVE - Represented by the EAGLE
To feel true love was to know the Creator. Therefore, it was expected that ones first love was to be the Great Spirit. He was considered the father of all children, the giver of the life enjoyed by a human being. Love given to the Great Spirit was expressed by loving oneself. It was understood that if one couldn't love oneself, it was impossible to love anyone else. The Eagle was chosen by the Great Spirit to represent this law. Symbolically the Eagle was the one who could reach the highest in bringing vision to the seeker. Pure vision from the Great Spirit was most treasured and sought after. Love was considered the greatest and most powerful medicine and healing agent. But, very difficult to achieve and live in a world that did not acknowledge the importance of spirituality.
RESPECT - Represented by the BUFFALO
No animal was more important to the existence of indigenous families then the buffalo. A single buffalo could provide food, shelter, clothing and utensils for daily living. Native people were true conservationist for they lived in a sustainable relationship with the buffalo and they believed themselves to be true caretakers of the great herds. Through this special relationship the true spirit of Respect was understood.
The Buffalo through giving its life and sharing every part of its being showed the deep respect it had for the people. This spirit of respect was shown toward all life because native people saw the interconnectedness to all life. They saw very clearly their dependence on the land. Therefore the land and its resources were to be given absolute Respect.
COURAGE - Represented by the BEAR
To have courage is to overcome FEARS that prevent us from living our true spirit as human beings. To have courage is to have mental and moral strength to listen to the HEART. In the natural world, the BEAR shows us the spirit of courage. By nature this animal is very gentle, but if you show any sign of approaching a bear cub a mother bear will display total fearlessness in defending her child. The bear represents living of the heart-living your spirit. The bear is very close to the land and it has brought many medicines to the people. When we have a hard time in are life, whether it be something we're going through or a decision that we have to make in are lives and we are afraid, we call on the spirit of the bear to help us have the courage and strength to do the right thing in our lives.
HONESTY - Represented by the SABE (bigfoot)
The essence of honesty is innocence. Honesty meant that being an honorable person free from fraud or deceptions. HONESTY meant a REFUSAL to lie, steal or deceive in any way. The highest honor that one could be bestowed upon an individual was the saying: "There walks an honest person; they can be trusted." Honesty to the elders meant being true to yourself. Elders would say: "never try to be someone else:-live true to your spirit-be honest to yourself, accept who you are and the way the creator made you."
The SABE wbich represents this law symbolically reflects the understanding of honesty.
The elders say that when you are honest and have nothing to hide or be ashamed of, your spirit is the size of the sabe. \\'hen you lie or do something bad and hide it from the people, it effects your spirit, not allowing it to grow strong. It does not feel good when you know you have done wrong and hidden it. When one does this, it eats away at your spirit, suppressing it and not allowing it to grow strong. So in order to have a strong spirit we must be honest to ourselves and others.
WISDOM - Represented by the BEAVER
To know and understand wisdom is to know the Creator gave everyone special gifts which were to be used to build a peaceful and healthy community. The beaver represents that building. He uses his special gift received by the Creator (his sharp teeth) for cutting trees and branches which he used for building dams and lodges. If the beaver didn't use his gift to build, his teeth would grow and grow until they became useless and eventually he would not be able to survive.
It is the same for us as human beings. If we do not use our gifts-our spirits will become weak because we are not fulfilling their use. This denial eventually leads to sickness because each human being's special gifts help impart self-worth and identity. Therefore when we use are special gifts that the Creator gave us for the betterment of the community, our spirits will grow strong just as our community. The challenge for us today is to find out what our gifts are and use them for the betterment of the community. This is WISDOM.
HUMILITY - Represented by the WOLF
To be truly humble was to recognize and acknowledge a higher power then man-one whom we call the Creator. Humility is one reflecting a deference or submission to the Creator. It is understanding that in the eyes of the Creator-we are all equal and what makes us equal is that sacred breath of life the Creator gave to us. Never are we to consider ourselves to be superior or inferior to our fellow man. Practicing humbleness meant we always considered our fellow man before ourselves. In the natural world, the wolf expresses this humbleness very clearly. The wolf bows his head not out of fear , but out of humbleness-he humbles himself in your presence. A wolf that has hunted food will take this food back to the den to eat with the pack before he takes the first bite of food. Again humility is a teaching to prevent against an attitude of arrogance and superiority.
TRUTH - Represented by the TURTLE
On the back of the turtle are 13 markings that represent the 13 moons which represent the truth of one cycle for the earth's rotation around the sun-the four seasons. There are also 28 markings on her back which represent the cycle of one moon. These signs are a confirmation of the truth which the turtle reflects. It is said that when the Creator made the human being he gave the human being seven sacred laws to live by that would guide him/her to the truth and the meaning of their life on the earth. As the Creator gave these laws the turtle was present to ensure that the laws would never be lost or forgotten. The elders say that if you can live out these laws, you will know TRUTH, thus leading to a strong and healthy life. These teachings are easy to learn and put them in the mind, but to truly live them in today's world is a very difficult task. The truth shall always prevail.
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