Summer Solstice - June 21, 2006

A beautiful day in Ottawa, sun shining, birds singing and butterflies dancing.

A place where people of all races, colour, creed and culture met and shared with one another. In other words, it was a cultural exchange of traditions and reflections.

The natives were dressed in their ceremonial dress. There was drumming, chanting, singing and dancing. There was also Native Arts and Crafts, Workshops on making drums, beadwork and painting. The medicine wheel colours and significance for this year. A sunrise and sunset ritual. Native food and crafts.

It is the day that I was to meet the Algonquin Elder Chief Commanda. Chief Commanda was born on the eve of WW1. He witnessed the oppression and near destruction of his land and his people, language and culture at almost every turn throughout his life. He is the the Keeper of Three Sacred Wampum Belts and Three Figure Welcoming Belt. He has met with World Leaders and Royalty. On this day, he was to receive the Key to the City of Ottawa, presented to him by His Worship, Mayor Chiarelli. It is the day that he wore with pride his Eagle Feather Headdress, a symbol respect and wisdom.

I will not go into all the details of this meeting, because I am still in a state of disbelief and the only words that come to mind is: "Honour". What I will tell you all, is that I received a personal invitation to his home to spend a weekend and attend a Peace Gathering under the name of Freespirit.

Below, you will see a "reflection" and some of the pictures that were taken yesterday.

Enjoy!

The Hero's Journey

We have not even to risk the adventure alone,

For the heroes of all times have already gone before us.

The labyrinth is thoroughly known.

We have only to follow the thread of the hero path.

And where we had thought to find an abomination.

We shall find a god;

And where we had thought to slay another,

We shall slay ourselves;

Where we had thought to travel outward,

We shall come to the centre of our own existence;

And where we had thought to be alone,

We shall be with all the world.

On our way to the Summer Solstice Aboriginal Day.

Walking towards the grounds

Again on Alexandria Island, viewing the back of Parliament Buildings.

As I walk in there is a Teepee,

and a wigwam

Chief Commanda's speech.

Chief Commanda and Mayor Chiarelli after receiving the Key to the City of Ottawa.

Was asked to take a picture with Elder Chief Commanda.

Drumming circle

Native Child doing the Butterfly Dance.

Adult Native doing the Butterfly Dance

Spreading her wings

Native man doing the Grass Dance

Six year Native Child dancing

Here you can see the 6 year old as well as the 3 year old in the background

Myself with 2 Natives. In the background you can see Parliament Hill and the Ottawa River

Quilt backgrounds. All of them have beadwork.

All of the above sights and sounds left a mark deep inside. However, the most important aspect of this day to which I am still "in presence" of is Chief Commanda's Remarks Upon Receipt of The Key to the City of Ottawa - June 21, 2006.

Below, I typed out his remarks.

I wish to thank His Worship, Mayor Bob Chiarelli for taking this courageous step of presenting me with the Key to the capital city of Canada. I am deeply moved to be honoured in this fashion on National Aboriginal Day. For me, this is as much an expression of understanding of my own individual efforts to work and serve my people, all the people who now reside on the land of my ancestors, as it is also an acknowledgement of the spirit of my ancestors and my Indigenous brothers and sister. Thank you all for joining us today.

You may know that the use of symbol is of great importance to Indigenous Peoples, guiding us to understandings of the bigger realities of life, and this gesture of the presentation of the Key to the heart of the country, the Thirteenth Key, is of great symbolic significance to me.

For well over thirty years now, I have been the Keeper of Three Sacred Wampum Belts. These sacred relics of my ancestors hold messages of historic and spiritual importance for all peoples.

Chief Commanda considers these living belts since they are not housed in museums, and they continue to speak with vitality and urgency to their carrier.

The youngest belt, the Jay Treaty Belt of 1793, the time before my country was divided, held the commitment for free movement across Turtle Island for my people. This Belt contains both genuine wampum and artificial Hudson Bay beads, foretelling the time when the borders would again dissolve.

In some respects, this message is ominous. But today, I see three levels of significance that makes me happy. The City of Ottawa is acknowledging someone from the City of Maniwaki; the Province of Ontario is reaching across to the Province of Quebec; and the National Capital Region, representing the entire country, is opening its heart to some one seen generally as belonging within the confines of a reserve, the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg. I see the spirit of borderlessness gaining strength. I see it as a symbol of hope.

I also carry the Three Figure Welcoming Belt, created in the 1700's when my ancestors welcomed the newcomers, then the French and English, agreeing to share the grand natural resources of our land and our values with them in three equal parts. Mayor Chiarelli's letter to me states that I am being presented with the Key to the City in recognition of my immeasurable contribution to the community, my formidable accomplishments and my positive influence - I see implicit in these words a recognition of the wisdom of the Indigenous Peoples, such as my ancestors had hoped would be understood years ago, and I am grateful. The indigenous still stands in the centre between the original settlers and the newer people.

Today, I wear with pride my Eagle Feather Headdress, a symbol of respect and wisdom amongst Indigenous Peoples, and this mantle, representative of my Honorary Doctorate Degree.

My people were also guided by the Seven Fires Prophecy, which had forewarned us of the difficulties we would pass through during seven epochs of time. We are not at the time of the final message of the prophecy we all, and not jut the Indigenous Peoples, are experiencing Mother Earth's pain and turmoil in our physical and spiritual health. Today, we are all also impacted by the pain and stain of war. I was born on the eve of the First World War, ninety three years ago; today the energy of hatred and racism divides us even more dramatically.

It is the time of the Eighth Fire, and we need to search for more profound solutions to our deep troubles, in order to leave a legacy of hope for all our children.

My ancestors left us with two core messages - messages that have guided my work, and messages that the world needs to awaken to in these times of unprecedented global crisis: one, Respect for Mother Earth, and two We are all Related.

I want to share with you my vision to guide us through these difficult times. IT is a vision for the revitalization of this Sacred Site, Asinabka, at the circular Chaudiere Rapids, Akikpautik:The Pipe Bowl Falls. In this vision, the falls are restored to their original state, in celebration of the spirit of water, and Chaudiere Island is replanted with trees. Together, they constitute a wild space in the heart of the country, a sanctuary with all who live in and visit this great city, and they send a symbolic message of reconciliation with Mother Earth across the globe.

This Sacred Site was a very special and powerful meeting place for indigenous peoples from time immemorial. IT is time for us to light the council fires again. The vision of Asinabka calls for an Indigenous Centre to revitalize Indigenous culture and heritage, and a Peace Building Conference Centre for All Our Relations, on Victoria Island. IT is here that we can come all come together as A Circle of All Nations, A Culture of Peace.

I thank Mayor Charelli for giving me this special opportunity to present you with this vision. Its realization is dependent of all of us. I am deeply honoured that you have all come to join me in lighting the Eighth Fire on this International Peace and Prayer Day.

On a last note, I would like to add the following photograph that was taken by Chief Commanda. He called it: "Nature Watching me!"

Megwetch! Merci!