Teachings from Animals
Rhonda Kronyk | Article empoweringthespirit . ca | Images
Indigenous Peoples have a spiritual relationship with the earth that many non- Indigenous societies have lost . That relationship comes from appreciation and gratitude for everything on the land , including humans , plants , and animals . Indigenous cultural practices , social systems , laws , and Traditional Knowledge are intrinsically tied to the land . Animals teach us some of the foundational tenets of living miyo pimâtisiwin ** ( the good life ), which can only be achieved by connecting to land , culture , and family .
In many Indigenous cultures , spirit animals impart lessons and guide our way . The wisdom they offer does not only apply to physical well-being but also to mental , emotional , and spiritual health .
Animals represent the Seven Teachings ( also called the Seven Sacred Teachings and the Seven Grandfather Teachings ), or guiding principles , of many Indigenous cultures . The teachings are interdependent and cannot be followed in isolation . While they are similar across Indigenous cultures , the following is from nehiyaw ( Cree ) teachings . gifts to provide shelter , food , clothing , and utensils that support daily living . In turn , Indigenous Peoples honour the buffalo by acting as stewards over these great animals . At the root of respect is honouring creation and not bringing harm to anyone or anything . This ensures continuity and interdependence among all beings .
The eagle gifts us with sākihitowin ( love ), the Creator ’ s first teaching of relationships . The Creator gives us his vision of love through the eagle , which can soar higher than all other creatures and impart the Creator ’ s vision . To love , we must love ourselves first so we can love others , sincerely receive and give love , and always act in love .
We learn sôhkitêhêwin ( courage ) in the face of danger or challenges from the bear . Mother bears face any danger to protect their young yet are gentle creatures . Courage gives us the mental and moral strength to overcome the fears that prevent us from living a full and good life . To demonstrate courage , we must face challenges with integrity , be ourselves , and hold true to our beliefs so that we can defend our community , family , and self .
The second teaching , kihcheyihtakosiwin ( respect ), is gifted by the buffalo . When buffalo give their lives , every part of the animal is shared . Buffalo share their
30 | arta . net kwayask itatisiwin ( honesty ) comes from within and is carried by the Sabe ( Sasquatch ), a giant who walked among humans but is closer to the Creator and can move between the spirit and physical worlds . The Sabe reminds us to be honest with each other in