2012 Zaagkii Project at Hannahville: Dr. Scott Herron Anishinaabe Show Respect With Tobacco/Cedar #1
Channel: ZaagkiiTV
Date: 27/06/2012

Ferris State University Biology Prof. Dr. Scott Herron says:

But one thing that the Anishinaabe community must learn "if we are going to do restoration of the Earth" is:

"At the same time you do ecological restoration -- you need to do cultural and spiritual restoration," Herron said.

"Without understanding a little bit about yourself and a little bit about the spirit world, you will be missing a significant part about the physical world."

Here are portions of the talk Dr. Herron gave at the Hannahville Indian Community in April 2012 as part of a U.S. Forest Service Funded Zaagkii Wings and Seeds project event entitled "Kinomaagewin-Aki: Teachings from the Earth."

Representatives from 5 Anishinaabe communities in Michigan and Wisconsin attended the workshop.

On April 12, 2012, Hannahville Indian School students planted apple and cedar saplings following the "Kinomaagewin-Aki: Teachings from the Earth" workshop coordinated by the Zaagkii Wings and Seeds Project and the U.S. Forest Service.

"Without understanding a little bit about yourself and a little bit about the spirit world, you will be missing a significant part about the physical world."

"What is important is -- one of those amazing things that we have here in the Great Lakes region -- is we have cultures and communities that still have some -- not all -- but some of those original teachings that come from the Earth, that come from the water, that come from the sky -- and that are still within us."

"We have a context for how to live and dance -- with the Earth Mother and the Sky Father -- and all our relations."

"Are most of us doing that? No not at all."

"Some people think that the excuse would be that we can screw over the planet -- we can screw over our Earth -- because we can just be like Star Trekkers, Star Wars -- and just go another place."

"I don't know about you -- but my ass is staying here," Herron said causing the crowd to laugh and agree.

"I am a product of the Earth and of the water and the skies," Herron said gesturing upward.

"As much as I go up in the thunderstorms maybe ever once in a while but I don't want to go any farther than that because this is where I see as my home," Herron said. "And I think that what's amazing is all of us hopefully find our home here in the Great Lakes region -- in the heart of that Turtle -- in that heart of that Turtle Island ."

The topic switched to restoring true Indians words for those that had European or other outside influence -- yet are common today especially in naming geographical areas, rivers and lakes.

Herron suggested that interested tribes contact the federal government about renaming the Hiawatha National Forest to Nanaboozhoo National Forest.

"We're having conversations about the Hiawatha forest and Hiawatha."

"I still think that we still need to work with our U.S. Forest Service to maybe -- you know -- take that name back" of the Hiawatha National Forest and change it to:
"Nanaboozhoo National Forest
Nanaboozhoo National Park"

Thuja occidentalis (Latin) Northern White Cedar/Eastern White Cedar
Info from several different Anishinaabe internet sources about Cedar/Grandmother.
Some communities have different spellings
Ojibwe/Anishinaabe:
Nokomis Gisheekandug (Grandmother Cedar)
Gisheekandug (Cedar)
Kiishig
Miskwaawaak (Red Cedar)
Giizhik (White Cedar)
Gizhiq
Nokomis (Grandmother)
Ogashiinan (Dearest Mother)
Omizakamigokwe (Throughout the Earth Woman)
Giizhigookwe (Sky Woman)

Zaagkii Project
http://wingsandseeds.org
www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5353195.pdf
Nonprofit Cedar Tree Institute
Marquette, MI
www.CedarTreeInstitute.org

Dr. Scott Herron
231-591-2087
herrons@ferris.edu
PhD., Biology Professor at Ferris State University
Biology Education Program Coordinator/Wild Rice Ethnobiology Lab
www.ferris.edu/HTMLS/colleges/artsands/Biological-Sciences/faculty-staff/Scott-Herron.htm

Info from several Anishinaabe internet sources including Wikipedia: 
http://www.whiteearth.com/data/upfiles/files/Pow_Wow_Brochure.pdf
http://www.fourdirectionsteachings.com/transcripts/ojibwe.pdf
http://www.nativetech.org/shinob/ojibwelanguage.html
http://www.anishinaabemdaa.com/ceremonies.htm
http://www.ojibwe.org/home/pdf/Ojibwe_Beginner_Dictionary.pdf
http://learningfromtheearth.org/anishinaabe-who-are-they
http://www.anishnawbe-glassics.com/Anishinaabe.html

Algonquin legend says beneath the clouds lives the Earth-Mother (Nokomis/Grandmother) from whom is derived the Water of Life, whose bosom feeds plants, animals, men.
A sacred medicine with many uses, Cedar is considered a cleansing medicine for body and soul.
It can be used as a tea or used in a bath, especially with women who are with child, to nurture and purify their bodies.
In the sweat lodge ceremony, kiishig/Gisheekandug (Cedar) is used to purify the area.
Asemaa (tobacco)
http://redroadcollective.bravehost.com/SacredTobacco.html
http://www.glifwc.org/publications/mazinaigan/Winter2008.pdf