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The Post a New Beginning
This is a drawing of a cedar post the Waganakising Odawa use to mark burials of our repatriated ancestors. Story and Drawing by Vicki Lynn. Aanii, my name is Vicki Lynn, Baa Pe
Mong Qwa. I was born in I am grateful for many things. The Creator has been faithful in provision to my family and me. This year has been rich in experiences with tribe members and their families. Through Grandmothers Wisdom my family and others participated in an encampment on tribal property the last weekend of July. Friday night our own Fred Harrington took campers up to the “Post”. There he told us the story of the place and it’s origin. I will try to convey the story as he told it to us. Our ancestors believed that when they were born we came into this life through water and when we passed on we were to go back through the water and our ancestors buried their people near the shore lines. As the “heavy brows” came inland they gradually started clear-cutting the shorelines of the trees, as they did this and started building on the shorelines many times the remains of our ancestors, their medicines, and relics were taken or disregarded. Recently legislation has changed and tribe members now have the legal power to claim them back. It was told to me that 133 of our ancestors were repatriated after given their proper respects were laid to rest in mass graves in four directions on a hill where the “Post” marks the center. Some have made this a place of prayer. That night campers hunkered down in the bosom of the earth Mother as the four elements raged outside of our nylon tents. In the morning there was not a dry place in the camp. No one was harmed nor anything damaged within our camp. Not the case for the homes along the shoreline of Little Traverse Bay. Many trees where uprooted and people spent days cleaning up debris. Thanks to the guys with the birch bark trick we managed to get a fire going and things started clearing up and drying out. As we sat out watching a movie drive in style the ones paying attention saw shooting stars against the velvet black sky. The Milky Way really did look like a spirit path that next evening. The storm unearthed 500 to 1500 year old remains of an Anishnabek female and a young child. After investigation the tribe was able to recover a significant finding. The experience of being there and seeing this place has me in awe. The connection to all my relations moves me in such a way that was the catalyst to the inspiration of the drawing A New Beginning. It is my gift to all those who have helped me either said or unsaid, and to all those who care. Megwetch! |
