Sharing Indigenous Knowledge on Survival in Times of Climate Change Turtle Lodge, November 18, 2016 Presentation by Nii Gaani Aki Inini – Leading Earth Man (Dave Courchene)

Boozhoo!Dinaymaginatook(Weareallrelated)!EldersandKnowledgeHolders–ThePeacemakersofourMotherlandAstheEldersandKnowledgeHoldersofourNations,ourroleandresponsibilityistobethePeacemakersofourmotherland.WehaveadutyandresponsibilitytobePeacemakersnotonlyforourNationsbutforeveryonewhohasarrivedinourhomeland.Ourroleistoencouragethatwefindapeacefulwaythroughanysituationorchallengeweface.Wearereadytobeengagedasactiveparticipantsindiscussionsthatdealwiththeissues,includingtheissueofclimatechange.AsKnowledgeHolderswearepositionedasanon-partisanvoice.Peaceisourparamountconcern,forallofus–forthechild,thefamily,andourharmoniousrelationshipwiththeland.Peacewillbetheonlywaywewillsurviveashumanity.Inordertoreachpeacewemustnotoverstepspiritualandnaturallaws,whichshouldactasthefoundationtoanyinitiativeoractionthatwetake.OurparticipationasEldersisdefinedbytheGreatBindingLaw–alawthatisinclusivetoall.WebelieveourIndigenousknowledgecanhelpuscollectivelydesign,implementandchangethenarrativetoestablisharealnationalidentity,inclusivetothecontributionofthegiftsofallpeople,includingthecontributionoftheFirstPeoples.

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Ourparticipationiscriticalbecauseweknowhowtodefusetheconfrontation.Wehavethousandsofyearsofknowledgeandexperienceofhowtoliveinpeaceandinbalancewithnature.Wewanttomovetowardsfindingapeacefulunifiedapproachtocurrentchallenges,andshowawayforallofustobecomeacultureofstewardship–acultureofgratitude,generosity,warmthandpositivity.Weacknowledgethecurrentrealitythatwearelivingintodayisinneedofchange.Wearelivinginanenvironmentofchaosanduncertainty.Wecancontinuetoburyourheadsinthesand,butthefuryofnaturewillprevail.Wecannotcontinuetowalkthecurrentpaththatthreatensthefutureforallofus.Climatechangeshouldbeviewedasanopportunityforustoreflectonourselvesandtomakethenecessarychangesthatwillensureafutureforourchildren.Therewillbeongoingeffortsbythoseattemptingtodealwiththemanyissueswefacepolitically,andrelyingonscienceandtechnology,hopingwecanmakewiserdecisions.Weencourageyoutoaddourvoicestothemix,andconsiderinvitingustosetafoundationbasedontheGreatBindingLawofOgichiTibakonegaywin,intheeffortstobringingrealchangeinourmotherland.Theenvironmentthatwehavebroughtyouintoreflectsawayoflifethatwasleftbyourancestors,whichensuredtheirsurvival,inatrulysustainableway.Theancestorscarriedoutthedutiesandresponsibilitiestobestewardsoftheland.Thisiswhatwewanttosharefromouroralhistoriesandourceremonies–ourknowledgeandunderstandingthatcanhelpmoveusforwardtoamuchmoresustainableEarth.TheGreatBindingLaw–AFoundationofValuesAsyouheardtodaywhentheGreatBindingLawwasshared,ourknowledgeistheretoprovideafoundationofvalues.AsEldersandKnowledgeKeepers,weshareourknowledgetoprovideadirection,guidance,andunderstandingofspiritualandnaturallawsandprinciplesthatarealwaysineffect,tobestempoweryoutomaketherightchoices.Wearenotheretotellyouwhatthosechoicesshouldbe.Wedon’tadviseyoutobuildapipelineornotbuildapipeline,althoughobviouslywearenotinsupportofchoicesthatharmtheEarthandourfuture.Wearenotheretotellyoutoengageinactivismorprotest,asweadviseagainstengaginginconfrontationsthatcouldescalatetoviolence.Intheend,theseareyourchoicestomake.Wesupportyouinmakingchoicesthatleadtopeace,andthatsupportlifeforallourchildren,choicesthatareabouttakingcareoftheEarth,andconnectingwiththeEarthtoseekyour

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answers.WeencourageyoutoengageinactivitiesandinitiativesthatarebasedonvaluesfoundintheGreatBindingLaw.Onceyoumakeachoice,andactonyourdecision,therewillalwaysbeconsequencesofyouraction,consequencesthatyouandyourchildrenwillbedirectlyconfrontedwith.Thatisnaturallaw.OurbestadviceistofollowtheGreatBindingLaw,whichwehavelaidoutforyoutoday.TheTotemPoleyouseeoutfrontwasgiftedtousearlierthisyearbytheLummiNation,aftertravellingacrossTurtleIsland.ItstoppedinmanycommunitiesincludingStandingRocktoreceivethestoriesofthepeople.OurEldersrecognizedthattheTotemPolehadcometoustohelpraisetheGreatBindingLaw,andtohelpuniteusinoureffortstobetrueguardiansoftheEarth.Ofmajorconcernistheelementofwater.Waterislife.Wateristhepassagetolife.Simply,whenwepollutethewater,wepolluteourselves.Withoutwaterthereisnolife.Itisthewomenofournationswhohavebeengiventhedutyandresponsibilityoftakingcareofthiselementoflife.Itisthroughtheirwordsofgratitudethatthespiritofthewateriskeptfullyalivewiththespiritoflife.ThevaluesfoundintheGreatBindingLawcanguideustofindawaythroughallourchallengesasasociety.Acrossthecountrytheyouthcontinuetotaketheirlives,anddepressionisincreasingatanalarmingrateinallyoungpeopleinCanada.Thisshouldbecomeaprimaryconcernforallofus.Weneedtoengageouryouthbeginningwithrestoringtheiridentity.Theissuesthattheyouthfacewillnotonlybedealtwithusingsimplywesterntypeapproaches.ItwillrequirethehelpoftheKnowledgeHolderswhowilltakeaholisticapproach.Wecancreateaneweconomyandnewopportunitiesforthenationbasedonstewardship,whereyouthcantakethelead,mentoredbytheKnowledgeHolders.TheEarthrewardsuswithabundancewhenwefollowherNaturalLawsInordertoreceivetheabundancethatnaturereallyhastoofferus,notonlyintermsofthephysicalgiftsshehasforusbutalsothespiritualgiftsofguidance,teachingsandlove,weneedtomakeanalliancewithher.Thatallianceisachievedwhenwefollowherlawsandvalues.TheEarthhasherownlaws,thatweareallboundby,reflectedintheGreatBindingLawandtheSevenSacredTeachings.ThewayweprotecttheEarthisbyfollowingherlaws.Inherexpressionofher

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naturallaws,theEarthwillrespondtoourfollowingtheSevenTeachingsbyshoweringuswithherabundance.Naturallawdictatesthatwhateverdecisionswemakewillalwaysresultinnegativeorpositiveresults.Ifweactnegatively,thathasdireconsequences.Ifweareabletoactpositively,wearerewarded,andthatensuressurvival.Whenwefollowherlaws,theEarthtakesnotice,andsheherselfbeginstoteachandguideustowardalifefilledwithpeace,unityandabundance.Wefullyrealizeourcurrentstructuresandsystemswillnotchangeovernight.Whatisimportanttoconsideristhatwhetherwechoosetochangeornot,natureholdsthefinalcardtoprotectherself.Whatisneededistoformanalliance–areciprocalrelationshipwiththeEarth,supportinghernaturallaws.Itisouropinionthattherealchangeneededaroundclimatechangeisachangeoftheheart.WemustbecomestewardsofourheartsbeforewecanbecomestewardsoftheEarth.Weneedtomakeafullcommitmentfromtheheart.Onlyacommitmentoftheheartcanopenoureyestotherolethatnatureplaysinourlives,ensuringoursurvival.Technologicaldevelopmenthasadvancedwithoutafoundationofvalues,whichhasbroughtagreatdegreeofdehumanizationandalienationtoourpresentreality.Nomatterhowwemaywanttodealwiththeissueofclimatechangewecannotescapethefactthatitisourownbehaviour,ourlossofvalues,andtheseparationweliveasthehumanfamilythathaveresultedinthedamagingoftheEarth.Togetherweareconfrontedtofindavisionthatisfilledwithhopeandoffersadirectionwecanembarkontogether.Wehaveanopportunitytosetacompletelynewnarrative,whichcanofferanewnationalidentityforthiscountry.AstheKnowledgeHolderswehavelaidoutthespiritofavisionthathasastrongfoundationwithvaluesthatcouldhelpustofindanewwaytobecomerealstewardsoftheland,andtoformulateacommunityaroundwhatcouldbeanewsharedidentityforourcountry.Thisnewnationalidentityisnotjustabouthavingacollectivepassionfornaturalenvironmentsandaconcernfortheirconservationandstewardship.Atitscoreitisabouthavingapassionforandlivingthenaturallawsandvaluesofpeacecarriedbythelandherself.Wehavebeenfocusedondealingwiththesymptomsofissues,ratherthangoingtotherootoftheproblemsweface.Therootofourproblemstodayashumanbeingsisthatwehavelostoursenseofidentity.Wehavelostourrelationshipwithspirit

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andourconnectiontoourpurpose.Wehavelostourrelationshipwithinourownfamilies.Wehavelostourrelationshipwiththeland.Ourwell-beingandourtrueidentityisconnectedtothewell-beingofourlandsandwaters.Havinglostouridentity,wehavelostourconnectiontothenaturalandspirituallawsthatgovernallofus,whetherwerealizeitornot.Educationandawarenessarethekeytochange.Wemustresistconfrontationandfindwaystobeopentowardseachotherandputeffortsintoworkingtogether.Wemustbecomeactivistsofloveandkindness,beginningwitheachother.Nomatterwherewefindourselvesasweparticipateinoursociety,weallhaveadutyandresponsibilitytohelptakecareoftheland.WeallhavearolethatwecanplayinensuringtheEarthisgivenfullrespect.Inorderforthistohappen,respecthastobeginwithinourselves.Wewouldneverbeabletoshowrespectforanyone,fortheland,untilwebeginhavingrespectforourselves.Thisiswhatweneedtoteachourchildren.OneofthepastPrimeMinistersofCanadaaskedme,“WhatcanwedotochangetheviewthattheaverageCanadianhasofIndigenouspeople?”Iansweredhim,“Simply,sendusyourchildren,andwewillteachthem.”Wemustsetupenvironmentsforallchildrentobeeducatedwiththevaluesthatcansustainusashumanbeings.ThechildrenshouldbeallowedtobetaughttheSevenTeachingsthatcanactasthefoundationoftheireducation.TheSevenSacredTeachingsInordertoaccessthepowerofthelandwemustreflectandlivetheSevenTeachings.ItistheSevenTeachingsthatcanactasthefoundationofawayoflifethatwecreateandbuildthatissustainable,thatreflectsrespectforalllife.Thisofcoursewillrequireachangeofheart.Itwillrequireacommitmentoftheheart.

TheseareourSevenSacredTeachings:

Respect–RepresentedbytheBuffalo–istocontinuetobeagivingandsharingpeople,firstandforemost,followingtheexampleofthebuffalowhogaveitswholebeingforthelifeofthepeople.

Love–RepresentedbytheEagle–iswhatourcountryshouldbeallabout,lovingtheGreatSpirit,lovingMide-Aki,theland,lovingourselvesinthewaywewerecreated,lovingeachotherinthehighestway,astheeaglebringsvisionthatis

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alwaysbasedonlove.ThroughtheunconditionalloveoftheGreatSpirit,wehaveallbeengiventheabilitytohavevision.

Courage–RepresentedbytheBear–istolivefromtheheart,havingthecouragetobeourselves.Ittakescouragetodotherightthingforthesakeofthechildren,thewayamotherbearwoulddiebeforeseeingharmcometohercub.

Honesty–RepresentedbytheSabéorBigfoot–isbeinghonestwithourselves,speakingandlivingourtruthfromtheheart.Honestyisrefusingtolieorengageingossipaboutothers;simply,beingtruetoourwords.

Wisdom–RepresentedbytheBeaver–isaboutusingthegifttheGreatSpiritgaveeachofustoserve,andbuildastrongfamily,communityandNation.Ourgiftsdonotbelongtousasindividuals,butbelongtoallthepeople,toservethegoodoftheNation.Ifthebeaverdidnotusehisgifttobuild,histeethwouldgrowlongandhewoulddie.SimilarlyifwedonotuseourgiftsinagoodwayforthebenefitoftheEarthandthebrothersandsistersofournations,wetoowoulddiespiritually,andexperiencethenegativeconsequencesofnaturallaw.

Humility–RepresentedbytheWolf–isaboutshowinggratitudeforlifereceived,neveroversteppingthenaturallawsofMotherEarth.Humilityistoknowthatnotoneofusiseveraboveorbelowourfellowhumanbeings.WeareallequalintheeyesoftheGreatSpirit.

Thereissomuchwecouldlearnfromthewolf.TheteachingofhumilitywasespeciallyimportantfortheleadersoftheNation.

TheteachingofTruthisrepresentedbytheTurtle.OurmotherlandisreferredtoasTurtleIsland.ToknowandlivetruthistowalkandlivealltheSevenTeachings.LivingtruthmeanslivinginthespiritofRespect,Love,Courage,Honesty,Wisdom,HumilityandTruth.Itiswhenwelivetruththatwewillknowpeaceandfindthetruthofourhumanity.Theturtlelivesinthewaterandonthelandtoremindtheworldofthetruthweshouldbelivingby.

Theanimalsthatrepresenttheteachingsensurethatwehaveacloserelationshipwiththeland–analliancewithnature.Theanimalworldareourbrothers.Theylivewitheachotherinharmony,andbringusteachings,asdothetrees.Itisthelandthatgivesmeaningtoourlives.Itgivesusourlanguage,ourteachings,ourlife.

ThisisthebeginningourEldershaveidentified,aswehaveexpresseditintheGreatBindingLaw.Inorderforpositivechangetohappenitwillrequireknowledgeandanawarenessthatcanhelpusunderstandourdutiesandresponsibilitiesofbeingtruestewardsoftheland,guidedbytheSevenTeachings.

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Whenyouareabletowalkthespiritoftheteachingsiswhenyoubecometrulyfree,itisthenthatyoureceivethefullsupportoftheuniverse,andtheforcesoftheEarthitself.Thereisnostruggle,butrathercatchingthenaturalrhythmoftheEarth.Youbecomeapartoftheland.Youbecometheland.

Indigenous-LedGuardianshipandStewardshipInitiatives

WemustdevelopasystemandacollectiveidentitythatemphasizeshumankindasstewardsoftheEarth,andstewardsofthevaluesoftheEarth.

Weshouldseriouslyconsidercommittingourselvestoinitiativesthatarefoundedonguardianshipandenvironmentalrestoration–ontruestewardship–andallowingtheFirstPeoplestotakefullleadershipindefiningtheprocessofsharingtheknowledgeandunderstandingofwhatstewardshipreallymeans.

Weshouldalsoconsiderinitiativesthatoffergreateropportunityforyouthtobeengagedinstewardshiptraininginitiatives,especiallyyouthwhoareinneedofextrasupport,guidanceanddirection.Connectingwiththelandcanbenefitallyouthbybringinghealing,strengtheningidentityandbuildingconfidence.Itcaninstilcorevaluesandnaturallawsofsurvivalthatwillempowertheminwhateverpaththeytakeinlife.Itwillensurethepaththeytakeissustainableandonethatisfilledwithpeace.Thereareinitiativesatthepresentmomentthathavebeensuggestedthatshouldbesupported.TheIndigenousGuardianshipNetworkproposedbytheIndigenousLeadershipInitiativeisoneexample.Itbuildsonapproximately30existingGuardiansprogramsalreadyrunninginIndigenouscommunitiesacrossCanada.Guardiansareemployedasthe“eyesontheground”inIndigenousterritories.Theymonitorecologicalhealth,maintainculturalsites,protectsensitiveareasandspecies,interpretcultureandheritageaspectsforvisitors,contributetolandandmarineplanningandmanagement,andpromoteintergenerationalsharingofIndigenousknowledge.Theyalsohelpbuildcapacitytoengagewithotherlandusers,industrialdevelopmentproponents,andgovernments,thusstrengtheningdecisionmakingatalllevels.Mostimportantly,GuardianprogramsconnectIndigenousYouthwithElders,theland,ourlanguagesandcultures.

AnotherinitiativehasbeenproposedbyGiigewigamigFirstNationHealthAuthority,acollectiveoffourofourlocalFirstNationcommunitiesworkingtogether.Theinitiativeistocreateanon-the-landcampatthesiteofoneofourmostbeautifullakeshereinManitoba,tohelpusre-establishourtrueidentityasapeople,andtohelpouryoungpeoplewhoremainlostinthesystemthathascreatedsomanysocialproblems.Thecommunitiesareworkinghardtomakethishappen.Withaddedpartnershipsandresourcesthiscampcouldbeusedasamodelofland-basededucation,healing,suicideprevention,addictionstreatmentandanalternativetoincarceration.

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AsaPeoplewearerichininitiativesthatcanhelprestoreandnurturethehumanspirit,toengageintheactivismoftheheartthatisneededtochangecourse.WecanleadthemovementtowardanalliancewiththeEarth.Itwilltakecourage,imaginationandskilltobeastewardoftheland.

Itisthespirititselfthatprovidestheincentivetochangefromwithin.WereceivespiritualguidancewhenwelivetheGreatBindingLawandtheSevenTeachings.Aslongaswecontinuewithapproachesbasedondominationorconfrontationwecanneveraccessthesupportandguidancenatureandtheuniversehastoofferus.

Ifwewantrealchangetohappen,itwillcomebacktousindividuallytomakethatchange.Itwillrequireonlyafewwhohavemadeacommitmenttotheheart.Naturallawwillthendictatethegrowthofthatseedofanewlifecarriedbythefew.ThenewseedweplantmustbefilledwithvaluesthatareinalliancewithspiritandwiththeEarthitself.Canyoufindinyourheartstosupportourefforts,effortsthatarebuiltonsharingaknowledgethatcanleadtodefinedactionsofstewardship–actionsthatcanhelpintheprocessofrestoration;actionsthatsetupinfrastructuresofhigherlearning,sharingvaluesofIndigenousknowledgewiththeproperprotocolsrequiredinreconnectingwiththeland?Canyoupledgeyourselftothattoday?

PositioningEldersandKnowledgeHoldersinaLeadershipRoleItisourrecommendationtodaythattheEldersandKnowledgeHoldersofournationsbepositionedintheirrightfulplaceofinfluence,guidingallofustoourgreaterpurposeashumanity.TheEldersofournationshavebeenbasicallydisplaced,andwehaveallsufferedbecauseofit.Today,giventheoverwhelmingchallengeswefaceweneedtheirwisdomandguidance.ItiswithintheselodgesthatourEldersaremostactive.Itisherethatourknowledgeistaughtandshared-thevaluesandteachingsthathelpnurtureandstrengthenthehumanspirit.Itisinourlodgesthatweconductritesofpassageforyoungpeopletoensuretheirpassageintoadulthoodhasastrongfoundationofunderstandingtheirdutiesandresponsibilitiesinbecomingleaders,inthemselves,intheirfamilies,theircommunitiesandthenation.WeacknowledgethatthisisourdutyandresponsibilityasEldersandKnowledgeKeeperstorebuildourYouthandourfamiliestobecomestrongagain.ItisallofourresponsibilitytosupportourYouth!

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OurnextstepwillbetosetupaformalgroupofEldersandKnowledgeHoldersandholdaSummithereinourLodge.ThisSummitwillbeginaroundtablediscussionaroundourfurtherparticipationregardinghowtheGreatBindingLawcanbeimplementedasinitiativessuchastheGuardianshipinitiativeandotherinitiatives.Aswedeveloptheseinitiativesweextendaninvitationtoalllevelsofgovernment,science,industry,theprivatesector,aswellastheKnowledgeHoldersofyourpeoplewhowishtoparticipate,tojoinusinthiscollectiveeffort.Wehavetocreateanon-confrontational,non-partisanapproach,anapproachwherewecanhaveseriousrespectfuldiscussionswithinourenvironment,astheFirstPeoplesleadfollowingtheprotocolsofourancestors.Itwillrequireatrustandrespectfromallofus,andIbelievewehavethis.Allitrequiresnowisthecommitmentofthehearttoembarkonthisjourney.Thecurrentrealityiswefacetoday,withsomanychallenges,willcontinueandhopefullywillberesolvedpeacefully.Wemustbeopentowardseachotherandbaseourdecisionsonthewell-beingandfutureofallchildren.Willweleavethemwithalegacythatwetookcareofthelandforthem?Willwecreateaworldwheretheycanliveinpeace?Willtheybefilledwithkindnessforalllife?ConclusionAstheKnowledgeHoldersofourNationswestepforwardandofferouradvicethathopefullywillappealtoyourhearts.Ourintenttodaywastoshowyouthesignificanceandmeaningofthegiftsthathavehelpedussurvive,andcontinuetohelpguideusashumanbeingsinthefuture.Inoneofoursacredceremonies,ontheWinterSolstice,welooktothesuntocomeandsaveusfromthelongestnight.Sincethebeginningoftime,thesunhasbeentheretoguideusandagainitwilltakeuspastthisdarkness,thistornadoofchaos,andbringbirthtoanewlife.Thesunistheclearestphysicalsymbolwehavethatwecanseewithourowneyes,thatthereisaGreatSpirit.Withoutthesunthereisnolife.WithouttheGreatSpirittherewouldbenolife.ForusasIndigenouspeople,welooktothesky,tothesun,tothegreatstarintheeast,toguideushome.AsasymboloftheGreatSpirit,thesunisasymbolofadoorwayandentrancetothespiritworld,andshinesalightonthepathtopeace.Weareclosernowthanwehaveeverbeentopeace.

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OurloveoftheEarthandherloveforuswillbringpeaceandbalancetoourworld.TheSevenTeachingswillensureoursurvival.InthewordsoftheElders,theysay“Payshinagon”–“itisnear–sonearwecanseeit”–thechangethatwillbringpeacetoourworld.Outofthechaosofuncertaintywearelivingtoday,theEarthwillgivebirthtoanewlife.Nurturedbyourselvesandthecontributionsfromallofusfromthedifferentcoloursofhumanity,andthefourelementsoflife-earth,air,waterandfire.Wecomewiththisreminder–wearealltrulybrothersandsisters.Nowwemustuniteasthehumanfamily.ItisourdestinyhereonTurtleIsland.Prophecyhasforetoldthis.Allthismustbeginwithspirit-thespiritofcouragetodotherightthingthatisexpressedinallourhearts.Pleasejoinusinourcontinuedcelebrationoflife.Joinustobecomeacountryofgratitudeforallthatwehave,forallthatwehavereceivedfromMide-Aki-ourgenerousMotherEarth.