Opinion: Protecting Mother Earth

In memory of Wilmer Nadjiwon, who was a great leader of his Ojibway people, a father, grandfather, World War II veteran, politician, wood carver, author, Indian Residential School Survivor, and Chief of Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation from 1964 to 1978.

By Danny Beaton

Wilmer Nadjiwon never stopped working to help build his tribe into a self-sufficient nation rooted in fishing, hunting, and creating art from Mother Earth. He knew the importance of always being positive and bringing hope and positive energy to the people.

Like Wilmer, the old Elders of many tribes and nations knew how essential positive energy was to their survival. They taught youth to never lie, that truth was what made all of their culture and ceremonies real. It was the old Elders who kept telling us everything we have is a sacred gift from our Creator, the Great Mystery.

What our Elders told us at the kitchen table or sitting by the Sacred Fire many years ago was everything their Elders, Chiefs, and Clan Mothers told them about what was important to our people and Mother Earth.

If we remember all the things our Elders told us when we were young, we will have truth and respect to always sustain our well-being and strength. Because of what is happening now to our people and Mother Earth, we need to remember the truth in everything our Elders said.

Indigenous people of the world come from cultures of deep respect for the forces that give us life: earth, air, fire, and water, the sacred forces in the universe, cosmos and all Creation.

But things are changing fast because our forests, rivers, lakes, fish, and animals are being polluted and contaminated. In Northern Ontario’s Ring of Fire, corporations are getting rights and permits from governments to come and take all they want from Mother Earth, even without traditional environmental assessments. These issues need to be addressed at the kitchen table and around a Sacred Fire with our Elders, Chiefs, and Clan Mothers. Our planet, Mother Earth, can only take so much abuse and exploitation.

Knowing what has happened in the past, these corporations will cause serious pollution that will kill fish, winged ones, insects, animals, plant life, and contaminate the pure, clean water. Indigenous people are still living from fishing, hunting, and gathering mushrooms, berries, and medicines, so this same contamination will cause sickness and death for many humans.

If our Elders tried to do everything in their power to stop destruction, how can we win now with so many governments that so often break treaties and promises, while mainstream society smashes all the natural laws we followed from the beginning when the Great Spirit gave us the original instructions?

Liars have broken everything that is sacred. We, as Indigenous people, must focus on what our Elders and Ancestors valued because it will give us direction and vision. All the truths our Elders talked about and shared in the sacred circle is with peace and harmony, respect, and power with natural forces.

Why can’t we learn from our past mistakes and protect Mother Earth now?

In the old days, everything we did was with Thanksgiving. Our Thanksgiving of respect can bring the people back to a vision and righteousness, unity, and harmony. Our Elders and Ancestors are inside our mind, body, and spirit. We need to believe this and defend the sacred – animal species, plant life, oceans, rivers – all life.

We can still have a healing life by doing what our Elders talked about – eating our traditional diet, finding time to prepare and eat Three Sisters soup, and cooking healing food so we can focus on being real again – deer meat, moose, buffalo, and fish diet to energize again. We can see the fast, ‘convenient’ life hurts us and all Indigenous People.

With the sacred way of life, Indigenous People can look to positive and honest allies, environmentalists who care for Mother Earth, and non-Indigenous cultures that are holding onto the sacred life. All people need to look to each other in unity and harmony. The beauty of Mother Earth is all around us, from the day we are born to our very last breath; she can feel our love.

Thank you all for listening. In the Spirit of Our Ancestors and in memory of Wilmer Nadjiiwon.