Spring ceremonies strive to preserve Anishinabe culture

Teachings were held around the sacred fire May 14 at the Grey Wolf Traditional Teaching Lodge’s spring ceremonies.
“We did them right outside this sweat lodge today,” said Cindy Crowe, one of the organizers of the spring ceremonies, held May 12-15 at Centennial Park in Thunder Bay.
After the day’s teachings, Crowe and a group of participants sat around the fire talking while awaiting the evening’s sweat lodge session to begin.
“People were sharing experiences of where they grew up, things they learned, teachings they have received from other people,” Crowe said about the day’s teachings. “John Lathlin, from Winnipeg, did a teaching here today about the sweat lodge.”
People attended the spring ceremonies from as far as Labrador, Wikwemikong and Fort Hope. Many young people from the area also attended the spring ceremonies.
“We had two people in the sweat lodge last night – it was their very first time,” Crowe said. “It was an amazing experience for them. They shared their stories afterwards.”
Perry Perrault said the teaching lodge and sweat lodge brought back memories of other ceremonies he had attended years ago.
“We had a sweat last night and it was very nice,” Perrault said. “It was hot. Tonight is going to be even hotter.”
Sweat lodge helper Alex Oombash rediscovered his culture after his son passed away in Thunder Bay a few years ago.
“It took tragedy to bring me to this path,” Oombash said.
Oombash said the teaching lodge helps preserve the Anishinabemowin language and culture and stresses the importance of passing those on to future generations.
“As Anishinabe people we always plan seven generations ahead,” Oombash said. “We don’t plan for ourselves, we plan for seven generations ahead.”
Perrault enjoyed the atmosphere at the teaching lodge location on top of toboggan hill.
“Sitting around here is just peaceful, it’s awesome,” Perrault said. “I know we’re not far from the city but this is home away from home.”
Thunder Bay’s Elizabeth Ladouceur attended the spring ceremonies as a cross cultural experience to learn more about the Aboriginal community.
“A lot of Native people come to the city and they share in our culture. But what about us going and sharing in theirs and just reaching out. I think it’s time,” Ladouceur said.
The spring ceremonies were the fifth held by the Grey Wolf Traditional Teaching Lodge in the Thunder Bay area.
“It’s been great,” Crowe said. “We’ve had lots of young people up here, lots of helpers. We’ve had people from all over, literally all kinds of cultures up here sharing songs with us and teachings.”
The Grey Wolf Teaching Lodge was developed after the late Elder Albert Mandamin interpreted visions and a dream Crowe had received.
“We’ve been slowly learning about these interpretations,” Crowe said. “We learn something every single ceremony. We get a little bit more knowledge about Waabi-ma’iingan (Grey Wolf) and about Ozhaawashko-giizhig (Blue Sky), the two spirits that govern the lodge and provide the teachings.”