“Sweetgrass, as the hair of Mother Earth, is traditionally braided to show loving care for her well-being. Braids, plaited of three strands, are given away as signs of kindness and gratitude”

(Wall Kimmerer, 2013, 203)

Wakhotowin – sacred nehiyawak law – guides all of us and our relations. It dictates that we must treat each other with the utmost respect and love, as we are all related. All things, even education, grounded with this law in mind will do only great things for our world. Since time immemorial, knowledge has passed from hand-to-hand throughout the generations. From the hands of a grandmother to a grandson, ancient teachings have found presence today and serve valuable purpose. Sometimes it is not always clear, but the answer becomes inevitable as you continue to learn and grow. The realization hits: knowledge is a gift that is meant to protect the world. A sweetgrass braid, for example, holds many gifts. As a plant, sweetgrass is a powerful physical medicine whose smoke brings health and rejuvenation. Much more than this, it is also a great connector. Through the practice of smudging, it can help create a connection with Creator and the ancestors. A sweetgrass braid holds power in that it offers great perspective and wisdom. It teaches us the importance of coming together and of the connection between our mind, body, and spirit. It reminds us of the past, present, and future, and to consider all that we do with kindness and compassion. Much like a braid of sweetgrass, the following collection will comprise of unique strengths and gifts, brought together to provide a glimpse of perspective. It is rooted in kindness and generosity and is offered to you with the hope it may bring new understanding. The stories will be unique, coming from many different places, and speak of a shared experience. Storytelling has always served as the primary driver for traditional knowledge sharing, and our stories will serve the same. Let these stories be our gift to you.

Gift giving has always been a special practice across many cultures. Gifts come in many forms, and for the purpose of this collection that form will be knowledge. The passing of knowledge and wisdom is one of the greatest gifts we can bestow upon one another. The trading of ideas, perspectives, and wisdom is what has always allowed us to thrive as people across vast territories. When we share openly and honestly we give each other the power to transform, not only our own lives, but truly the entire world around us. Knowledge is like a braid of sweetgrass, medicine that can heal the world. If we have medicine to share it is our obligation to do so. It is in this spirit that many of us share.

In recounting my own experience, I am filled with a sense of pride and hope. I am proud that I can live and demonstrate a part of who I am that represents my people, my culture, and my territory. Hopeful, because we can still come together as diverse and unique people to receive the gifts that the land has to offer. Driving to the site where we would be conducting our land camp brought many feelings. Bringing people from across Canada, each with varying degrees of experience with camping or outdoor education is a courageous and risky task. Of course, we want everyone to have a great time and to have a wonderful experience, but when it comes to education rooted in traditional practices, we can make no guarantees. As such, we put an immense amount of trust in one another. I put all my trust in Creator. In the back of my mind I kept reminding myself that, “whatever happens is meant to happen, just as Creator intended.” Reciting this in my mind brought a certain sense of comfort, knowing that no matter what happened we were achieving something special.

This time together was an opportunity to connect on a different level, on an open playing field, where we were not bound by any sense of ego. It was a natural affair filled with many laughs and some tears. Throughout the time together there was a true sense of community which is becoming difficult to find these days. The intention behind our convening was relatively simple; we wanted to see what open education felt like, and where it could take us as people. My Ancestors practiced a way of life that was rooted in the harmony we have with nature, with the land and elements around us, and this translates into how we live amongst one another today. For many of us, connecting with that traditional lifestyle can be an incredible challenge, and sometimes impossible. However, we can still recreate the essence of how they may have existed at one time, in relation to the world. When we can return to the land in a way that is rooted in kinship, we can open the door to a knowledge system which has stood the tests of time.

As you enter Jasper National Park from the Northern corridor, you are greeted by majestic mighty mountains. The granite and limestone peaks rise far above the boreal forest below, reminding us of our humble being. We are miniscule in comparison, and this sense of humility washes over those who pass through the gates. This land holds knowledge, it is alive, and it is there for us to rediscover. The mountains, the trees, the waters, the non-human kin, they all hold stories and knowledge. It is there for us, endlessly waiting for the hearts and minds who care to listen, who care to watch, who care to witness the profound life that exists. This was our task, and this was the dream; bringing humans to a space which is relatively unknown, with limited access, and waiting to be explored with a fresh set of eyes. This bountiful place became our meeting grounds for just a few days, and only one night together under the canopy of stars. It was during this time together that we explored culture, ceremony, and sacred knowledge. With open hearts and minds, we worked together to find new perspectives that could help us advance our shared understanding with the dream of building brighter futures for all.

Driving into Jasper National Park always brings a sense of humility and wonder. The grandeur of the mountains captivates the spirit, and there is a sense of how small we truly are compared to our magnificent relatives. They stand tall and proud, revealing stories from our past. It is an open place, a special place for me and my Ancestors and for all who have the privilege of walking through the territory. The town of Jasper is located within Treaty No. 8 Territory and the homeland of my people. I have heard the stories of how my Ancestors were pushed from these lands and how it used to be called home. I can still feel the deeply rooted connection, in my blood memory, and whenever I return I can hear the echoes whispered from the past. This land still holds sacred stories which can only be heard if you sit and listen. These stories contain knowledge, history, and wisdom essential to the survival of future generations. The grand landscape, with its winding turquoise rivers, crystal clear lakes, snow-capped mountains, is an inviting location to be together, a wonderous place to learn. Many who come and go from this land leave feeling awe and inspiration.

In many ways, it is our job as people to unlock those stories. We must be willing to listen and sit for a while, to uncover knowledge that holds secrets to our shared prosperity. We must also go to it, as the land calls out for us. It beckons us to visit and to learn, to treat it with respect, and to move forward with courage and love. The land here is sensational, a true beauty that exposes us to the richness of our world. The beauty is in the granite peaks peering over the treetops. It is the mountain goats skipping along a razors edge of rock, balancing life and death with every step. It is the elk bugle, heard from miles away, dancing across the still waters of ancient emerald lakes. The beauty lives in the voice of the Raven, who chatters steadily from the bushy perches, calling out to those who care to listen. It takes a true adventurer, an inspired learner, to be able to venture into these territories and receive all she has to offer.

On the first day I arrived early with Lance, a Blackfoot Elder, to ensure the camp was prepared for our group when they arrived. It was a cool autumn morning, filled with the fresh crips air emanating from the mountain tops into the valley below. The yellow and orange leaves are scattered throughout the site, and many of the trees are scarred from a monstrous fire the summer before. Amidst their charred remains, many of the trees manage to survive the blaze, gracing us with their still colorful foliage. The site we are visiting is simply known as the “cultural use area,” where many Indigenous peoples from across Alberta have the permission to access to practice traditional ceremonies and knowledge exchange events. Our site is truly perfect, with a magnificent view of Pyramid Mountain to the West, with the surging Maligne River just a few metres North of the campsite. On our site, there also happened to be a tipi standing, seemingly left by a group before us. We had permission to utilize this space, and it would serve as a central location for many of our ceremonies. The site was set, and we were ready to greet our friends.

When the bus eventually rolled into camp, I was filled with nervous excitement. I kept wondering what everyone was going to think, praying continuously that everything would work out for the best. Once everyone was off the bus and gathered around, I immediately felt a sense of responsibility, jumping into action knowing that the group was in mine and Lance’s hands. I had recalled my years of living on the land, and the training offered by many Elders, knowledge-keepers, and traditionalists, and I was ready to take care of the group as one of my own. As the group took in the beauty and wonder of the land around them, the work was getting ready to begin. Our experience was meant to be as natural as possible, and in many ways, stayed true to how I would have been taught while growing up. When it comes to land-based learning, there is no script, there is no agenda, there is only time for learning and doing. We began our morning with a smudge circle, cleansed by the smoke of the sage plant, bringing our minds, bodies, and spirits into focus as we approached the land for knowledge and wisdom. It is usual for many First Nations People to begin their days in this way — a profound way to connect with Creator and the Ancestors — offering gratitude and respect for those who came before us and those who walk with us today. As we smudged in circle, we shared our intentions and dreams for this camp, and were then ready to set off on the learning journey together. Land based learning, as we practiced, acknowledges the spirit of the land and all she has to teach, and we looked to her for gifts of knowledge.

This type of learning, within this sacred environment, encourages and demands that we activate essential skills of survival such as problem solving and critical thinking. In many cases, it necessitates teamwork and collaboration of community to truly thrive. As such, our first exercise was the most essential: camp setup. The group was instructed to build a set of 24-foot-by-18-foot canvas trapper tents, with only one set of basic instructions. At first, there was a little confusion, as the tents came in mismatched bags and some of the equipment was a bit awkward. Slowly, however, the group started to find their rhythm and assemble the tents. The tent building got to a point where everything seemed off, and pieces had been put in the wrong place. Indeed, some of the aluminum fittings and poles were assembled in the wrong spots. Of course, there were some sighs of disappointment and discouragement, but the job remained. After some quick collaboration and consultation, the group decided to dismantle a few sections and replaced items into their correct positions, eventually leading to the first tent being setup within two-hours. It was quite a task at first, one which ultimately solved through community collaboration, teamwork, and critical thinking. I was reminded that sometimes it is okay to slow down, stop, reassess, and then rework the problem in front of you. In a world which is so fast paced, moments of clarity and calm are hard to come by. Out here, we had the time to work together to solve the problem, a true gift in an ever-speedy world.

As the sun moved by overhead, with both of our trappers’ tents now raised and many of the individual camps set up, we turned our attention to ceremony. Much of what we experienced cannot be shared here, but what can be said is that our group came closer together in many good ways. There was personal discovery and growth, laughs and tears, and nothing but love, respect, and understanding for those of us who sat together in circle. The ceremonies brought our hub together in ways which have always been practiced in these territories, an open opportunity to listen, learn and love. When the sun began to slowly drift behind the mountain peaks, and with the temperature steadily dropping, it was time to cozy in for a night filled with music and laughter. Lucky for the group, the weather at that time permitted us to have an open fire which is always a highlight for any camp. Many people enjoyed roasting hot dogs and making smores over the flames, true staples around any Northern Canadian fire. You might not think of it, but a fire holds more teachings than one might think. We can all connect with fire in some way; it is a sacred element after all. As we sat around the blaze, I felt immense gratitude for the chance to come together, to share space, songs, and dances that we held dear. The opportunity to practice kinship and community is another of the great gifts we share as people. It has been our defining feature since the beginning of our societies, cultures, and worlds. It is true, there is much we can accomplish on our own, but it is together that we begin to change the world around us. There is beauty and strength in kinship, and when we walk together there is nowhere we cannot go. When we journey together, walking hand-in-hand, we bring together cultures, knowledge and perspectives. We must find the way to bind them together into a solid braid, leaving something for our future ancestors to hold on to.

As the camp came to conclusion, after two wonderful days together, I had a thought that we are all like pieces of a puzzle trying to find where we fit. In the end, we all truly belong, coming together to create a picture that is perfectly woven and intertwined. My only regret is that I cannot tell you what that grand mosaic will look like, as we all still have work to do in figuring out where we belong. Nonetheless, we belong together somewhere, and it is in this togetherness that we can rediscover our purpose. Rediscovering the path is a wonderous feeling, and doing so with people you can count on is a true gift.

As you embark on the journey, this new pathway laid before you, we encourage you to step softly, to tread lightly, and take the time you need to ingest the knowledge we hope to provide. As you wander into our collection of stories, experience, and perspective, treat the knowledge as a gift with the utmost respect. Stories are a part of who we are and it is the one thing we can always offer freely, in the hope that it may help us navigate this incredible adventure we call life. I am reminded of the openness this requires, the courage and humility needed to tell our stories in ways that pass along good knowledge, history, language, and love. We look to ourselves, and our ancestors, as the ultimate guides and navigators of our own chapters, of our own books. We carry endless and boundless wisdom, and a deep respect for our teachers who surround us.

This is my call to you, my fellow relative, as you wander and explore this collection that you will keep your heart and mind open. These stories come from the land and water, and they have been translated by the human spirits who bravely journeyed to this wonderous land in the pursuit of knowledge and understanding. We must treat these stories and unique perspectives with absolute Respect, for they come from a place of Courage, Love, and Humility. They may guide us all in finding new Truth and Wisdom. They will also remind us of the importance of staying true to ourselves, to walk in an Honest way. These are the teachings we lived by, that we modelled, that we practiced, all in the pursuit of living a good life — miyo pimatisiwin. Take them, use them, and use the gifts for good.

Reference

Wall Kimmerer, Robin. 2013. Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants. Milkweed Editions.