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Come Walk in My Moccasins Newsletter
August 2017
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In this issue:
Books: Baby Learns to Count,The First Day, Mwakwa Talks to the Loon
Our Stories: Eagle in Lacrosse Our Songs: Giizis Binoojiyag (Sun Children)Our Dances: Hoop Dance Traditional Arts: Fish Scale Art Recipe: Minty Sweet Spinach Smoothie
Our Words: Ojibwe Alphabet |
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Grand Entry* is the first dance that takes place at a pow-wow. Everyone involved in the pow-wow in any way takes part in this opening dance. Participants enter the pow-wow field or arena in a specific order. The flag bearers enter first. They are often war veterans, and they carry the flags of the country, the host nation and other visiting First Nations groups. The chiefs, Elders and tribal leaders come second, followed by the Aboriginal war veterans. If there are any princesses or warriors who have been elected to represent a community, they enter next. Then the dancers enter the arena–the men first, followed by the women and, finally, the children. Everyone circles the arena several times, while the drummers and singers play a Grand Entry song. It's an amazing sight to see, with everyone dressed in his or her finest regalia, dancing proudly around the arena to the beat of the host drum. (source) * Because it is a ceremony, no photos or videos should be taken during Grand Entry.
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| Baby Learns to Count
For infants
Baby has begun to count, and now that she knows how, she can’t stop! Baby counts everything from the buttons on her shirt to the birds in the sky. Introduce children to the world of numbers with this bilingual board book in Navajo and English. (Excerpt from Salina Bookshelf Inc.)
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| The First Day
For preschoolers
Makwa has to go to a new school … and he doesn’t want to. How will he face his first day?
The First Day is one book in The Seven Teachings Stories series. The Seven Teachings of the Anishinaabe—love, wisdom, humility, courage, respect, honesty, and truth—are revealed in seven stories for children. Set in urban landscapes, Indigenous children tell familiar stories about home, school, and community. (Excerpt from Strong Nations)
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| Mwakwa Talks to the Loon
For school-age children
This is a timeless story of Kayas, a young Cree man who is blessed with the ability to hunt well and provide for his People. With the help of the Elders and the Beings that inhabit the water, he is taught to respect his abilities and to realize that in order to live a life of success, fulfillment and peace, we must remember to cherish and respect the talents and skills we have been given. (Excerpt from Strong Nations)
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| Eagle in Lacrosse
Ten-year-old TJ tells his story about an eagle that wants to play lacrosse. In this story a young boy sees and encourages the eagle to play, to be included in the game. The result is a very happy ending. TJ has been in Mohawk immersion programs since he was 2 years old. He shares this story in Mohawk with English subtitles. (2 minute video) |
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This story has been created through Kingston Indigenous Language Nest and the Indigenous Health Program through Kingston Community Health Centres.
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This simple Ojibwe song describes the sun, water and children at play, and can be sung alone or as a round. Read the lyrics in Ojibwe and English and hear it sung in Ojibwe by Margaret Noonin. |
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| Hoop Dance
The Hoop Dance is a popular traditional story-telling dance originating in the Anishinaabe culture. The dance is believed to have been part of a healing ceremony designed to restore balance and harmony in the world.
It features a solo dancer who begins with a single hoop and slowly adds up to 40 hoops representing the interconnectedness of life elements, including humans, animals, wind, water, and seasons. The dance incorporates very rapid moves in which the hoops are made to interlock or extend from the dancer’s body to create symbolic shapes, including butterflies, turtles, eagles, flowers, and snakes. The circle shape - with no beginning or end - represents the never-ending circle of life.
Hoop dancers typically learn to dance under the guidance of more experienced dancers, often a family member or close family friend. This way both the moves and the traditional beliefs can be kept alive. The hoops are always hand-made of reeds or wood. Colors are selected either to match the dancer's outfit or have special significance to the dancer. Hoop dancers are expressing their culture visually through the arts.
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| Fish Art
Northwest Territory artist Jennifer Buckley explains the background and inspiration for her art using fish scales and vertebrate.
"Art is all in the eye of the beholder, as they say, and inspiration is everywhere if you really look. A lot of my own inspiration comes from family and my children, and the very first pieces I made were specifically for some of them. The art I create is done using fish scales & bones, and with my family having a long history in the fishing industry I have a lot of available materials to use..."
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| Minty Sweet Spinach Smoothie
This recipe is taken from Food is Our Medicine Making it Sacred and is shared with permission from the Southern Ontario Diabetes Initiative.
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| Obijbwe Alphabet
Ojibwe is known by many names including Anishinaabemowin, Ojibwe, Ojibway, Ojibwa, Southwestern Chippewa, and Chippewa. It is a Central Algonquian language spoken by the Anishinaabe people throughout much of Canada from Ontario to Manitoba and US border states from Michigan to Montana. It is centered around the Great Lakes homeland of the Ojibwe people.
The Ojibwe People's Dictionary is part of a language revitalization project to support second language learners. The Ojibwe People's Dictionary describes the Ojibwe double-vowel alphabet and offers phonetic examples for pronunciations of sounds and words. |
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Indigenous Language Resources
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Tsi Tyónnheht Onkwawén:na provides Mohawk language and culture programming at the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory (the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte).
Programs include: Totáhne (At Grandma's House) for preschool children, Kawenna'ón:we Primary Immersion (K-4) and Shatiwennakará:tats, a program for Adults
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Canoe Kids
A family book for readers of all ages that explore Indigenous cultures through authentic Indigenous voices
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Sources for Indigenous books:
Indigenous Book Lending:
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| Metis Nation Ontario August Calendar, Kingston |
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| Napanee Drum Circle Wednesday, August 2, 2017 |
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| Feather Wrapping with Teachings, Kingston Friday, August 4, 2017 |
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| Full Moon Ceremony, Kingston Monday, August 7, 2017 |
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| Tyendinaga Territory Pow Wow Saturday and Sunday, August 12-13, 2017 |
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Drum Circle, Deseronto
Tuesday, August 15, 2017 |
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| | 2017 Pow Wow Schedule (Across Canada) |
| | | Katarokwi Indigenous Day of Wellness, Kingston Friday, October 27, 2017 |
| | We need YOU!
Help us become more inclusive of the many First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples among our readership. Share an Indigenous recipe, song, or traditional art through Come Walk in My Moccasins. Contact aflccanada@gmail.com if you are interested in becoming a guest contributor.
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| | Indigenous Family Literacy Circle Partners:
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Copyright 2016 Indigenous Family Literacy Circle 465 Advance Avenue, Napanee, Canada | |
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