Aanii !!! I apologize for the long absense from this blog. It's Spring and i've found that my energies are focused less on sitting in front of the computer and more on being outside. My son and I enjoy lacrosse so we spend time chucking the ball around whenever we get a chance. Nonetheless, here are a couple of updates on community events.
There will be the community's 8th annual Tree (Poplar Pole) Ceremony on Monday May 18th at Sunrise at the Secord sweat lodge site over on Ojibway Road. All are welcome. I've hosted this ceremony several years ago and I have a strong belief in the healing and restorative powers of it as a mind, body and spirit exercise. In honoring this tree we are saying a heartfelt thank you to this live giving member of our Earth Family for providing us with life, sustainance and assistance throughout our earthly existence. This tree after the ceremony becomes a sacred place to offer prayers, remembering those that have passed and to offer spirit plates. Raising the tree is special and requires the nurturance and love of those participants. I'm very excited and honored to have been asked to participate.
Sunday May 17th is the gathering of pipe carriers at the Sundance site. It starts at 1pm and will be followed by a sweat. Word has spread about this and it is an open invitation. To be around those pipes will be powerful medicine and will focus the continuing efforts of this group of people to bring peace and unity to the community. The sweat will be a beautiful ceremony to honor Spring and to clense myself from some of the stress that has accumulated over the past few months. This Spirit Lodge is being erected at the Sundance site and prayers are welcome. I'm not conducting so i don't know who has been invited but those with positive messages and prayers would be encouraged to attend. Sweat Lodges are running in several places around the community and those that are interested in attending are encouraged to contact me and i will act as a liason with the various conductors.
Wednesday May 13 was a time of Feasting and sharing of songs. The attendance was low but the spirit was high as we honored Spring and offered a Spirit Plate to the Little People of the community. The Little People are those spirits that help to protect children and are of great assistance to families during planting. Food was offered a small pipe was offered. I brought out my son and I's Boston Creek Honor Song that i recently composed. The song came to me while I was hiking with my son and my sister and her family back to the Boston Creek. The Boston is a mighty and beautifully flowing creek that runs through New Credit and Six Nations and off the reserve. It was a special night and finally this song is composed and dedicated to the woman of the community that protect and pray for our water. I sing this song for all the strong women i know in the community that do strong work to protect Mother Earth. I also believe the coming of Spring and Mother's Day helped me to focus my spirit on bringing this song out.
Lloyd S. King Elementary's Girl's Hand Drummers and Big Drum will be recording a CD to celebrate 10 years of traditional singing at the school. If you know me you can contact me to get a copy sometime in July when its finished post-production work. I'll also try to have copies available at the Summer Pow Wow in August.This will be a youth project...singing, producing, mixing, graphic design,photography and writing. Tentative title is "Mdaaswi : Celebrating 10 year's of Anishnaabe Voices at LSK" .
Miigwetch for listening.....have a great season and may this message find you in good health.
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