Band Member Voices

January Culture Column - A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME

By Nazhike, Mille Lacs Band Member

As Anishinaabe, we should come to know the larger story about the move westward as not just a movement across the land but a journey shaped by resilience, adaptation, and sacred purpose. Each place where we paused was a living chapter in our story where life took on new forms, relationships deepened, and our connection to the Creator and the natural world was reaffirmed.

In the eastern homeland, near the waters of the rising sun, our people thrived. We fished the rivers and hunted in the forests. It was here the Miigis sent us the prophecy, calling us to journey westward for safety from impending doom.

At Niagara, the falls reminded us of nature’s power and the importance of humility. Also near here, come the stories of the spirit of the waters, Mishi-bizhiw, the great underwater panther. When Iroquois war canoes approached, seeking to challenge our passage, they offered tobacco to the waters. Mishi-bizhiw rose from the depths, capsizing the invaders’ canoes, allowing us to continue our journey under the protection of the spirits.

Near Michilimackinac, the Council of Three Fires — the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa — solidified their alliance. Each nation embraced their role: the Ojibwe, spiritual and political leaders guiding the people with the wisdom of our teachings; the Potawatomi, firekeepers, tending to the sacred flames and ensuring the warmth and safety of the people; and the Odawa, skilled traders, navigating vast networks that brought goods and knowledge from far and wide.

Sault Ste. Marie was a hub for trade and cultural exchange. It was also here that the migration split. Some of our people turned southward, guided by the Creator’s plan to settle in the land where the food grows on water, while others continued west along the northern shores of Lake Superior. This division was not one of separation but of purpose, as the Creator’s design placed each group where they were needed most.

Near Bad River, the migration’s westward path brought an other powerful sign. A great crane appeared, standing watch over the waters and calling loudly to the people. The crane’s presence was understood as a message that the land and waters here were sacred and would sustain the people. This encounter deepened our resolve to live in harmony with the natural world and to respect the messages sent by the Creator through animals, who are our relatives and guides.

Madeline Island, Mooningwanekaaning, was a place of profound spiritual refuge. Its name, meaning “Place of many Golden-Breasted flickers,” reflects its sacredness. Here, we immersed ourselves in ceremonies under the open sky. There were plenty of resources in the area, and we also found the land of wild rice, fulfilling the prophecy. Life here was balanced and abundant.

Each stop along our journey taught us how to live with respect, courage, and gratitude. The Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa worked as one weaving their unique gifts into the fabric of our shared history. Our fires still burn bright, carrying the wisdom of this sacred migration forward. As Anishinaabe, we are forever guided by the teachings of this journey, a path that lives on in our hearts and the lands we call home.

Miigwech.

GANAWENIDIZODAA AABAJITOODAA GAA-PI-MIINIGOOYANG — JOE’S THOUGHTS

GAA-TIBAAJIMOD (told by) JOE NAYQUONABE SR., WAABISHKIBINES GAA-TIBAAJIMOTAWAAJIN (transcribed by) JAMES CLARK, OZAAWAANAKWAD

This month my relatives I’m seeing a difference in the foods were eating from the time I was growing up to now. I am see ing a slow change in the food that we bring to the table. I don’t claim to be an expert in nutrition or diseases, but I am seeing a large spike in diseases such as diabetes. And I am wondering if it is not because of the dietary changes that we made. I don’t see what people are eating in their private homes but I see what they bring to the Dancehall. I remember participating in the drums in the 1950s, the ladies and men on the drum bringing kettles of food cooked at home. All the food set at the table back then was homecooked and I have to think people took personal pride in cooking a meal for the visitors and guests who attended the drum. We didn’t have much money but we made do with what we had, and it seemed like everyone was pretty happy with the food. Especially knowing the work, it took for that dish to be made and be brought into the dance hall. After all we are sharing a meal with the manidoog and they should have a good homecooked meal. I think there was certain pride taken in that. I missed a part of the dances while I was on re location, going into the military, and working and living outside the Rez. When I did come back during that time, I didn’t take too hard look at the food I was eating. When I moved back to the Rez and started attending the dances consistently, I started to take note of the food that was being brought.

I also noticed that during the dance we were just trying to get done. We had bingo on Friday nights and people wanted to get done to get over there just as an example. I also notice now that we are bringing in more processed, store-bought, and canned food into our ceremonial spaces. And I do believe we have always had sugar in our tea. Whether the changes in our diet has anything to do with our health, it does bring diet into question, does it? I am not an expert in nutrition or diabetes on our Rez. When I was younger it was basically nonexistent. A lot of our Band dollars are now being spent to fight it, and sadly our members have passed from it. It shows that we as a community need to change our diet. Not to mention when you mix alcohol with diabetes. These are things that should all be looked into and made for our members. When I worked in chemical dependency, I told them the greatest gift the Creator gave us was our body and it is our duty to take care of it and what we put into it. Although I am not an expert, if we put good stuff in, we’ll live good, if we don’t, then it’ll be tougher.

When I got on the school board and when I worked at the school with the kids I also talked about the Creator giving us a mind, and what we do with that mind matters. If we do good things with that mind then good things will happen, and the opposite is true if we don't do good things. So, let’s not waste the good mind and body that the Creator gave us.

A few years ago, an elder lady approached me about having classes for our young ladies on how to sew blankets and how to cook a nutritious meal. I think with all the things going on around us, sometimes we forget about the gifts that we have been given to us, like our minds and bodies, and we should take good care of those not only as individuals but as a com munity. Let’s be healthier. In a way, I am preaching nutrition and exercise. I just saw a class they’re doing on jingle dressmaking; I hope to see classes about blanket-making and cooking. At one point, a long time ago, I’d think Shinaabs were the healthiest people in the world. Mind, body, and spirit. Some of our Elders lived a long time; I wonder what the difference was over the past fifty years of how long our elders lived. But if you look at natural causes, I wonder if we’re losing our life span to our store-bought food.

Things that were given to us by the Creator, such as lan guage, body, mind, and spirit, are slowly being pushed aside, but it’s not too late. We can do this through nutrition, good education, and our spirituality which are all available within our community. I think we all should take advantage of what we have to make us healthy because it’s not too late. We have a lot of issues before us, but we can overcome them by doing the things that were given to us. It’ll take some adjusting, but I honestly think it can be done. We owe it to our ancestors, ourselves, our children, and everyone to make a healthier to morrow. I am not an expert, but these are just thoughts that have crossed my mind in the past few years.