Honesty, represented by the Sabe (sasquatch), is a sacred teaching explored in this Miywasin Moment series.--Series art created by JoLynn Parenteau
“It does not require many words to speak the truth.”
– Chief Joseph, Thunder Rolling Down The Mountain, Nez Perce tribe, b. March 3, 1840 – d. Sept. 21, 1904
It is said that many thousands of years ago, the first Peoples of Turtle Island (Native North America) were given a gift from the Creator: the Seven Sacred Laws.
In this series, the Miywasin Moment explores these Seven Sacred Teachings. Also called the Tipi Teachings or Grandfather Teachings in other parts of Turtle Island, these are values passed down from our Ancestors.
Indigenous ways of knowing are built upon these seven natural laws, each upholding a virtue necessary to an honourable and balanced life. The tipi poles that form the structure of this traditional home each represent a value.
In this fourth instalment, let us seek to better understand the Sacred Teaching of Honesty, the antidote to insincerity and falsehoods. In Anishinaabemowin, the Ojibwe language, honesty is gwayakwaadiziwin. Broken down, ‘anishin’ means good; ‘aabe’ is derived from ‘yaabe’, the male aspect of our species; together with the ‘mowin’ suffix, Anishinaabemowin means the language of the good person.
The Turtle Lodge International Centre for Indigenous Education and Wellness at Sagkeeng First Nation in Pine Falls, Manitoba is a place for reconnecting to the Earth and sharing Indigenous ancestral knowledge, founded on the Seven Sacred Laws. The Turtle Lodge offers children, youth, adults and Elders the opportunity to come together in a sacred environment for traditional teachings, ceremony, healing and the sharing of the perspectives of the original Peoples of Turtle Island on mino-pi-mati-si-win, a good and peaceful way of life.
In 2021, Turtle Lodge supported Indigenous filmmaker Erica Daniels of Peguis First Nation and the respected late writer and Anishinaabe Elder Dr. David Courchene, also named Nitamabit (The Original Way and One who Sits in Front) Nii Gaani Aki Inini (Leading Earth Man) to produce a series of animated YouTube videos about the Seven Sacred Laws.Â
The series’ fifth episode returns to the young Anishinaabe boy who is on a vision quest.
As he sat by the fire, “The boy was startled by a large noise,” narrates Elder Courchene. “Then, silence. Slowly a towering being covered in hair emerged from the bush. The boy froze as this massive human-like creature stood over him.”
Each sacred teaching is represented by an animal, offering a special understanding of how we as people should live our lives on Mother Earth. The boy is visited by the spirit of the giant Gichi Sabe, more commonly known as Bigfoot or Sasquatch. The Sabe teaches us about the Law of Honesty.
“To be honest is to be someone who is trusted and who speaks with truth, to never lie and always be genuine,” the Sabe Spirit tells the boy. “Say what you mean, mean what you say and always stay true to your values.”
“The Elders say the best way to honour the spirit of the Sabe is to speak from your heart and be true to your word,” explains Elder Courchene in the video series.
North Dakota wellbriety program Tribal Community Prevention’s Seven Sacred Teachings guide teaches that long ago, the Sabe walked among the people to remind them to be honest to the laws of the Creator and honest to each other, thereby remaining morally upright.
The Elders would say, “Never try to be someone else; live true to your spirit, and accept who you are the way the Creator made you.”
In this new year, as this writer takes stock of the accomplishments and experiences of the last 12 months, I am weighing the energy it took to reach these milestones. If I am to embrace gwayakwaadiziwin and listen to the honest spirit of the Sabe within, I will acknowledge the cost was high. My heart tells me I must be gentle with myself this year. To honour this new commitment, I will make time for personal projects and rest, though this will mean less frequent instalments of the Miywasin Moment.
A gentle year will honour my spirit. Perhaps that in itself is an achievement.
JoLynn Parenteau is a Metis writer out of Miywasin Friendship Centre. Column feedback can be sent to jolynn.parenteau@gmail.com
