NortheasternOntario-TravelMag2023 - Flipbook - Page 32
THE SEVEN
GRANDFATHER TEACHINGS
The Importance of Connection to the Land
Story by Lynne Cormier
S
omething
different
happens
French-Indigenous family. However,
There is an unspoken connection
when you get out on the land.
it is the traditional teachings that
that happens in nature. It happens
And I don’t mean going for a hike
have been shared that truly alter my
between
down a well-known trail, or visiting
perception of the world around us.
the elements, and everything in
a beautiful tourist site—although
My ancestors learned to survive by
between. This connection not only
those are lovely things to do, too.
watching the animals — by watching
helped us survive as Indigenous
I mean really being with the land,
what they ate, where they went for
people, but humbled us to the
being one with the world around
water, and how they survived in
mindset that the human spirit is just
you. To stop and listen to the
varying weather.
as important as a water spirit, a tree
stream, to the blackflies buzzing;
trees,
animals,
plants,
spirit, or a fish spirit. With this way
to watch and give thanks to the sun
It was a practice of patience, and
of thinking, water was not wasted
and moon above us. Something
the seven grandfather teachings
or
different really happens when we
were always at the core, which
were prayed on and only taken for
can slow down enough not only to
are: Respect, Humility, Love, Truth,
survival when needed. We knew we
pay attention but to listen, to learn
Courage (bear), Honesty (raven),
needed this natural world around us
and to respect.
and Wisdom (beaver). By paying
to survive, and it was respected in
attention and watching so closely,
this regard.
polluted,
trees
and
animals
Growing up in a small Northeastern
an understanding and great respect
Ontario town, I was surrounded by
was established for all things around
We are so disconnected today that
nature, so the concept of spending
us.
some people don’t even know what
time in the bush was normal for our
32
ARTS & CULTURE
direction the sun rises, or where