Sacred Fire vital during the Robinson Huron Treaty annuity case

By Jennifer Pereira

SUDBURY—Sacred Fire has a spirit, and keeps a path lit to the Creator and is a large part of ceremonies and has helped light the way for Anishinabek as well as the individual. One such Sacred Fire burned for most of the days that the Robinson Huron Treaty (RHT) was being deliberated upon in the Superior Court of Ontario.

First, it started in Thunder Bay, Ontario, where the hearings first began. Then the hearings went to Garden River First Nation, then Manitoulin Island and lastly onto Sudbury, where they wrapped up. Where the hearings went, so too, did the Sacred Fire or Shkodeh.

Just as important as the Sacred Fire, are the Fire Keepers and it takes quite a number of men to coordinate and look after a Sacred Fire, and there was an organizer: Leroy Bennett, an Anishinabe from Sagamok. Bennett is the Cultural Coordinator or affectionately known as the “Cultural Guy” for Robinson Huron Treaty Litigation Committee.

Bennett said, “When we discussed it with the RHT committee, it was thought to be a good idea to have a fire burning while the lawyers were in court.”

When the hearings began in Thunder Bay, the Fire was lit in the city nearby the courthouse. According to Bennett, the fire helped a lot of people.

“In Thunder Bay, we had eight to one-thousand people come through. It was the only situation that word of mouth travelled faster than Facebook. The fire had a lot of company. People were amazed that we went ahead and did it.”

In between hearings in the different regions, Bennett said a few coals were kept from the Fire to start the new fires when the hearings continued. In every area, Fire keepers or Shkabawis were called upon to help watch the fire and ensure it stays lit and protected. This, Bennett says, is not for everyone, as people need to have the teachings to enable them to watch a Sacred Fire. A member of Sagamok, Steve John, is one such trusted Shkabawis.

It’s a serious job to look after a Sacred Fire and John agrees with Bennett about how the fire can help people. There’s a connection between a Sacred Fire and one’s own heart.

“The more I learn, the stronger my fire becomes. I feel honoured to be there for some people.”

During the time he looked after the fire, John learned more about the Robinson Huron Treaty and he also learned to work with others.

“[When] it came to Little Current, and I was asked to go over there to watch the fire, I was there with other firekeepers. I’ve never done that before. I was learning from other fire keepers. It was a turning point in my learning.”

For John, the sacred fire has been instrumental in turning his life around. He mentions that his life wasn’t always good.

“It changed my life. I didn’t always walk this way… I ended up with an alcohol problem. I found out that there was a way out of this disease – I was looking for a cure and ended up in a treatment centre.”

It was there, where John was introduced to the Sacred Fire.

“The teachers to help me with my problem, they used the fire to help. And I have always used the fire to help me through my bad times and through the best times.”

John’s connection enabled him to work with the Sacred Fire while it was lit during the hearings. He’ll be back at his watchful post in June when the final arguments take place in a Sudbury court, where people can offer their prayers at the Fire.

Bennett adds, through the Sacred Fire, “We wanted people to know that we are praying for everyone involved in the case.”