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| Wendat Sister Yaskwatut |
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Kwe Brothers and Sisters, At this time let us make ourselves comfortable around this cyber-fire, for I have a story to share. This is not a traditional teaching story, as it has not been passed down for many generations, rather it is the story of a profound experience which changed my life. I had reached a place in my life where I had come to feel very intensely, the suffering brought to our people, by outside religions, and I had come to understand how destructive it's influence has been in my own family, and I felt angry, VERY ANGRY! Remembering IYONDESHUTON (in our ancestors ways) I went and asked several respected Elders for advice, and the question I put to them was in essence this: Our Ancestors taught us to respect all faiths, was this not the beginning of our destruction? Why are there so many ways to pray? I was told that our Ancestors knew that to claim miracles, or to claim that only miracles matter would be the worst form of arrogance. In my anger & arrogance, I could not understand their answers. Until Jake (my son) reminded me to burn tobacco, and pray for understanding. I did so repeatedly, and awoke one morning with a greater sense of peace than I had felt for some time. I knew I had had an important dream the night before, but strangely, I could not remember it clearly. I had been invited to participate in a group discussion at one of the Universities in Toronto, and after the scheduled program was over, a number of us were sitting and talking. The question came up "why are there so many ways to pray?" and suddenly, my dream was happening to me! We were all sitting around a large heavy table, and when it came my turn to share my opinion on this issue, I was surprised at my own words, and this is the essence of what I shared with the group; See this table in front of us? To me it symbolizes creation, which Our Creator set in motion, we not only are a part of this creation, but we uphold and share in the constant renewal of this Creation through the prayers and the spiritual ways, that were given to each of us, by Our Creator. Together we lifted this heavy table with our fingertips, it was so easy! I sit here, a Wendat woman, beside me sits another Hodenoshonee, beside him sits a young man of the Northern Cree. To my other side sits a Nishnabe Kwe and so on around this table, an Anglican, a Buddhist, etc. We sat there a few moments, still holding up this heavy table, each in their own thoughts. It came to me that, I could not truly "see" the perspective of someone sitting at any other place at the table and each of us had a unique view of the table and the room we were in, depending on where we sat. Our challenge was to try and understand each other’s perspective, WITHOUT LETTING GO OF OUR OWN! As these few minutes passed, I concluded by demonstrating what happens when we lose one of these ways of praying, one faith is removed from the work of upholding this Creation, as I removed my fingertips from under the edge of the table, a ripple of unbalance, of awkwardness moved along our perimeter and the table started to fall! Others commented that the table was heavier, harder to "up-hold" and as we put the table down on its legs, some people laughed, others looked dazed, as if coming out-of a dream. And I bowed my head, and whispered my thanks, as cleansing, healing tears rolled down my cheeks.... I had been shown the answer to my question. By holding-up the responsibilities which Our Creator gave each of us, we aid and support, all the other faiths, to do so as well! My words are done, if they have any value to you, carry them with you, and share them as you see fit! If they have no value, leave them here with me. Either way, I thank-you for letting me share my story with you. I remain, in Sisterhood Yaskwatut Clan of the Chewer of Bones, Cord Wendat. |
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