Learning from the Grandfather Teachings of the Anishinaabe People

There are many land-based Indiginous Teachings that we can benefit from. Above all, caring for ourselves, each other and the land to ensure our survival, health and spiritual growth. For many Indiginous Peoples, the Seven Sacred Teachings (also known as the Seven Grandfather Teachings) are timeless guiding principles for living our best lives.

Raechel Wastesicoot is the Culture Manager the Nature Conservancy in Canada. The Seven Sacred Teachings were taught to her by an Ojibwe Elder in terms of how to care for the land and protect wild animals. She shares her understanding in an article: The Seven Sacred Teachings: What we can learn from the species we protect.

The Seven Sacred Teachings are introduced as a teaching and classroom resource by Every Living Thing which helps teachers inspire compassion for animals, people and the environment.

The teachings originate from the Seven Grandfather Teachings of the Anishinaabe People and have been adopted by many (but not all) First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples. The teachings focus on the relationships we have with all of creation and with ourselves and with each other.

The seven teachings include Honesty, Humility, Truth, Love, Courage, Wisdom and Respect, each teaching represented by an animal. Each one teaches us how we can live our lives in harmony and with respect for ourselves, each other and every living thing.

Origins of the sacred teachings

Rocky Morin is Knowledge Keeper of the Enoch Cree Nation in Six Treaty Territory in Alberta, Canada. He introduces The Seven Sacred Teachings as guiding principles to show how we can live our lives in a respectful and sacred manner in harmony with all living things.

The teachings originate from his Anishinaabe relatives, the Ojibwe Nation. They were widely adapted across Turtle Island in North America. Rocky explains that wherever we are in the world and however old we are, we can learn to integrate these core principles and values into our lives for the greatest benefits.

Animal teachings for life

The profound wisdom of the Anishinaabe and Ojibwe People can be found in the following timeless teachings that speak of the beauty of interconnectedness and interdependence. As a spiritual translation of the sacred laws, the teachings guide us towards what is described by the Ojibwe People as mino-bimaadiziwin or The Good Life which is a life lived in harmony, free from contradiction or conflict.

1) The Raven for Honesty

Honesty is a teaching that helps us to learn about ourselves and understand how to be genuine about our intentions and practice honesty towards ourselves, each other and the land. Ravens show us how to work things out for ourselves using the resources we have available. They encourage us to improve our skills, look after ourselves, take advantage of opportunities and protect those around us.

2) The Wolf for Humility

Humility is a teaching that enables us to face up to the reality of our actions and understand the impact we have on each other and the land. Humility is practised when we own up to our shortcomings and are willing to learn from past experiences. Wolves teach us how to work together as a family and how to look after each other. Wolves remind us to be humble by understanding our capabilities, sharing and doing our best.

3) The Turtle for Truth

Truth is a teaching that reminds us to honour what we say, to know our own truth and to develop reciprocal relationships with each other in a natural a cycle of give and take. The Turtle symbolises longevity, perseverance, patience and resilience. They remind us of the importance of perspective and awareness so that we can live a balanced and fulfilled life in the reality of the present moment.

4) The Eagle for Love

Love is a teaching that encourages us to love unconditionally and to receive gracefully in reciprocal relationships with each other and all that Mother Earth sustains. The energy and frequency of love felt and expressed from the heart is represented by the Eagle who soars high in the sky and connects to source. Our Indigenous Elders honour the Eagle as a reminder for us to do the same and to resonate with love, as with love, anything is possible.

5) The Bear for Courage

Courage is a teaching that helps us to face up to our greatest fears and barriers to success which are very often self-inflicted. It makes us think of a Mother Bear (think Mamma Bear) who will stand up to a much bigger Bear to protect her cubs. This is a virtue we must work towards every day so that we become stronger and understand how to free ourselves from perceived anxieties and dangers as we grow.

6) The Beaver for Wisdom

Wisdom is a teaching that shows us how knowledge is gained through experience. This is represented by the Beaver who demonstrates reciprocity, responsibility and respect in how they craft the waterways, work with the land and look after their families. The Beaver teaches us to be productive, to not to limit our options and to work as a team where individuals work for the beneficial of all.

7) The Buffalo for Respect

Respect is a teaching that underpins all teachings and is represented by the Buffalo who provided all that was needed to live a good and healthy life by Indigenous Peoples. Respect is essential in building reciprocal relationships based on the give and take of generosity and gratitude. The Buffalo reminds us to honour each other and the gifts of Nature through right intention, right action and sharing of the abundance.

The above teachings perfectly encapsulate the values we hold dear at CABI and AOW and this is why this post has relevance in realising our vision for our communities and humanity as a whole.

Teaching the teachings

I came across the Seven Sacred Grandfather Teachings very early on in researching Home Education and was delighted to discover this is offered as a teaching and classroom resource by Every Living Thing.

I am learning that there are many resources available for activities that support flexible, child-led learning. These are being shared in the community as more of us feel inspired to learn about things outside the curriculum and pass them on - just as our ancestors did before us.

The Seven Sacred Grandfather Teachings bring us closer to Nature as we learn about personalities and traits found in the living world, they also bring us a set of core values that we can relate to and aspire to live by.

It is time to bring such teachings and wise wisdom into the light for the benefit of our own communities. As the Grandfathers and Grandmothers of life itself, our Indigenous Elders have the best interests of humanity at heart. They love, understand and respect Mother Earth. They show us what we can learn from the natural world and how to make the connection. What better teachers to lead us into the Golden Age!

Thank you for reading and sharing, we look forward to seeing you soon.

Sue Cartwright

Editor, Community Assembly of the British Isles

First published on Spiral Leaf and Substack on 24 July 2024

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