Isaac Murdoch celebrates spring through storytelling and traditional teachings

By Rick Garrick

NIMKII AAZHIBIKONG — Serpent River’s Isaac Murdoch enjoyed sharing stories virtually from Nimkii Aazhibikong during the March 29 Lakehead University Spring Celebration with Isaac Murdoch event.

“I told stories about the spring — we talked about the mermaids, we talked about the bear feast, we talked about the power of spring and change,” says Murdoch, an Indigenous storyteller and traditional knowledge holder. “We talked about many different things regarding the spring, we talked about water and the power of water. So it was a very good talk we had last night.”

Murdoch says engaging people in a story can “go a long ways.”

“These stories carry traditional knowledge, they carry medicine, they carry information, they carry historical facts,” Murdoch says. “So everybody gets something different when I tell a story.”

Murdoch also shared some information about how the late Elder Peter O’Chiese helped him to fast when he was a child.

“It was quite an extraordinary part of my life because it helped shape how I view the natural world and the spiritual part of who I am as an Anishinaabe,” Murdoch says. “That was a big investment by Peter that really shaped my life. It was a great experience.”

Murdoch says he has always continued with the culture and ceremonies and stayed close to the land during his life.

“My mother wanted me to go and live with these medicine people and learn from them like that rather than going to school,” Murdoch says. “So I was always living with Elders when I was young, just working hard for them and being a helper to them.”

Murdoch says he usually does storytelling on the land, around a fire and in the comfort of a lodge, wigwam or tent.

“That’s just not the reality during COVID-19, but we still want to lift people up and inspire people and we want to make sure the sense of community is not lost,” Murdoch says. “So we use technology to make sure that people are connected and people are still hearing stories and people are still grounding themselves in the culture and the language. It’s really important that during COVID-19 we use whatever we can to make sure our people are safe, connected and moving forward.”

Murdoch also shared some of his artwork during the virtual event, noting he has sold pieces of his art around the world.

“I love to do art and stories,” Murdoch says. “It’s part of my expression as somebody that likes to create and tell stories. The art is part of that too so they go hand-in-hand.”

Murdoch says the audience asked “really good questions” during the question-and-answer period.

“I find there is a huge interest with Indigenous people to really try to understand how to get back to the land,” Murdoch says. “So those were the questions a lot of people ask is, ‘How do we go back to the land in today’s society?’ and ‘How do we rationalize going back when we have jobs and we’re in the programs and services economy and we have mortgages and all of these things?’”

Murdoch says he usually encourages people to plan their life accordingly and to make the decisions that are good for them.

“Every day is a new chance and a new opportunity to make change and to work towards what you really want in your life,” Murdoch says.

Murdoch previously did a virtual Lakehead University Winter Storytelling with Isaac Murdoch event in late January.

“We told stories and we laughed,” Murdoch says. “It was really a fun time — I imagine I will be doing a fall one too.”