Journeys Around The World
Stories of Five Cross-Cultural Experiences
On my journey, I went on a trip to Upper Michigan to learn more about Native Americans and the Anishinaabeg tribe. Prior to my experience, the majority of my knowledge about Native Americans was from the Milwaukee Public Museum. This view was extremely limited and mainly consisted of men and women in animal skins, dancing around the fire, making noise with jewlery made from bones, and chanting phrases like "Kum-Cha." In order to fill our lacking knowledge, we were instructed to read The Mishomis Book: The Voice of the Ojibway, a book filled with short stories designed to teach Native American children about their ancestry and preserve their culture. I was not expecting this experience to be an opportunity for extreme spiritual growth and a place to contemplate my own life. I felt as though I was walking the same path that Native Americans had travelled.
The Talking Circle
Jikiwe, also known as Ed, was our mentor for the week. His grandmother was a Native American and taught him almost everything he knows. When we first arrived, we were very grateful to be out of the 12 passenger vans after four hours of driving. Jikiwe instructed us to sit in a circle and told us about the talking circle. There are certain rules that must be followed within the talking circle. Traditionally a feather is passed around the circle, and the person with the feather is the only one who can talk, and everyone else must watch and listen to what this person says until this person is done talking. The feather would go around four times and everything that is said within the circle stays there. The consequence for disregarding this rule was that one cannot be allowed to return to the circle. Instead of a feather, we passed around a talking stick. In this talking circle, we shared personal stories, family traditions, our own thoughts, favorite occurrences of the day, and what we were thankful for at that moment. This type of communication was a different way to learn about people than we are used to. How often do you give your undivided to twenty people and listen carefully to what the say?
Within the circle, Ed (Jikiwe) was the elder. His experience with talking circles and the culture far surpassed any of our knowledge. Whenever he spoke within the circle, everyone listened more intently to hear what words of wisdom he would share. It reminded me that the older people in my life just might have important things to share that could be of great value to me.
Life tracks
Carve the clay,
spiralling.
Partition.
Each life etched
important events of your life
into a clay tablet.
Carefully choosing which events
are special.
Is your family on your track?
Is your religion?
Each space
has a hidden meaning.
Secret.
Known only to you.
The track ends.
Where will your track lead?
Copper
Listening was an extremely important part of the trip. In addition to listening to drums, elders and nature, Jikiwe instructed us to listen to copper. A copper plate was added to the fire until it was maleable. As the copper cooled off, the pitch became higher and higher. By feeling how the copper gave and listening to the pitch, I could almost see when the copper was becoming less malleable and needed more heat. When creating something, the Anishinaabeg believed that while making the gift, you should think of all of the positive feelings you have for that person. By doing that, the gift becomes more powerful. Think of that the next time you receive a meal from someone you love.
The Drum Circle
Listen. Watch.
Listen to the people around you.
Mimic the rhythm
they create.
Ba-ba-da-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba.
Feel your chest
reverberate with the beat of your drums.
The beat is life.
It grows
if you let it.
Respond
you feel the leader surge.
Faster, louder,
Faster, Louder!
Do not falter your rhythm.
Slowly you watch
as Ed strikes the drum
with less force
the excitement contained.
Watch.
Listen.
Wait as he slowly,
slowly becomes
slower and quieter.
You are barely
touching the drum now.
The drum circle has finished.
Following Footprints of our Ancestors
A look into Native American Culture
Danielle Jaeger
Read the Seven Grandfathers and the Little Boy
Look at the pictures. The seven beads in the copper bowl represent the seven gifts the grandfathers gave and the seven virtues that the Anishinaabeg held in highest regard. The two beads on either end are the guard beads.
Before you go:
Read the Seven Fires
The final day when we had to leave, I was grateful that I would soon be home, but I was more hoping that the impressions and things I had discovered during the trip would not leave me. I wanted to remember how important elders are. How important it is to live in the moment and to listen. I wanted to hear the beats of the drum and remember the life of the earth. I wanted to feel every moment and be grateful for the majesty of nature. I wanted to be aware of everything around me, and I hoped that the quiet beauty of nature would still be there two hundred years from now.
The First Steps
The Beginning
Gallery- a sample of activities and art
Each person made her own talking stick unique. With the idea that each creation has a special purpose, I made mine with the idea that it would be used for mediating and for sharing thoughts and feelings. There were 8 stones: 7 for the grandfather's virtues, and one stone that represents women-the dragon fly. These virtues would be extremely helpful during a talking circle. The dragonfly was considered to be rebirth or healing. Also the colors blue and green represent rejuvenation and life respectively. During talking circles, there may need to be healing, and it is my hope that within any talking circles with this talking stick, the people will support, uplift, and understand each other better.
Talking Stick
