The Seven Sacred Laws - As Shared by Elder Nii Gaani Aki Inini (Dr. Dave Courchene), Anishinaabe Nation, Eagle Clan

In the Anishinaabe world, and others, the Seven Sacred Laws have acted as the foundation of our way of life and connection to the Spirit and the land.

The Seven Sacred Laws are represented by seven animals that ensure our close relationship with Nature. Each animal offers a special gift and understanding of how we as people should live our lives on Mother Earth.

We are living in a time that we need a vision of hope based on values and teachings that can set the foundation for a change of heart. The Seven Sacred Laws are the foundation we are to live by. These Laws emanate from having the spirit of kindness.
It is the spirit of these seven animals that we call upon to teach and remind us of the Seven Sacred Laws, beginning with the law of Respect – Represented by the Buffalo.

Respect is to be a giving and sharing people, first and foremost, following the example of the buffalo who gave its whole being for the life of the people.

Love – Represented by the Eagle – is about loving the Great Spirit, loving the land, loving ourselves in the way we were created, and loving each other in the highest way, as the eagle brings vision that is always based on love. The essence of love is understanding, with empathy and compassion. Through the unconditional love of the Great Spirit, we have all been given the ability to have vision, and to make our visions come true.

Courage – Represented by the Bear – is living from the heart, and having the courage to be ourselves. It takes courage to do the right thing for the sake of the children, the way a mother bear would die before seeing harm come to her cub.

Honesty – Represented by the Sabé or Bigfoot – is being honest with ourselves, speaking and living our truth from the heart. Honesty is refusing to lie or engage in gossip about others. Honesty is being true to our words. Honesty is never judging or condemning others, but to speak well of others, honouring their uniqueness within the human family.

Wisdom – Represented by the Beaver – is about using the gift the Great Spirit gave each of us to serve, and to build a strong family, community and Nation. Our gifts do not belong to us as individuals, but belong to all the people, to serve the good of the Nation. If the beaver did not use his gift to build, his teeth would grow long, and he would die. Similarly, if we do not use our gifts in a good way for the benefit of the Earth and the brothers and sisters of our nations, we too would die spiritually.

Humility – Represented by the Wolf – is about showing gratitude for life received, never overstepping the natural laws of Mother Earth. Humility is to know that not one of us is ever above or below our fellow human beings. We are all equal in the eyes of the Great Spirit. There is so much we can learn from the wolf. The teaching of humility is especially important for the leaders of our Nations.

The teaching of Truth is represented by the Turtle. Our motherland is referred to as Turtle Island. To know and live truth is to walk and live all the Seven Sacred Laws. Living truth means living in the spirit of Respect, Love, Courage, Honesty, Wisdom, Humility and Truth. It is when we live truth that we will know peace and find the truth of our humanity. Our spiritual constitution is written on the turtle. The turtle lives in the water and on the land to remind the whole world of the truth we should be living by.

The animals that represent the seven sacred laws ensure that we have a close relationship with the land – an alliance with nature. The animal world are our brothers. They live with each other in harmony and bring us teachings.

When one is able to walk the spirit of these Seven Sacred Laws is when one becomes truly free, it is then that one receives the full support of the universe, and the forces of the Earth itself.

David Suzuki shared the following remarks at the Honouring Ceremony, while hundreds gathered on Saturday November 6, 2021 at the Turtle Lodge International Centre for Indigenous Education and Wellness to honour Elder Dr Dave Courchene and his Vision of Turtle Lodge.

The National Turtle Lodge Council of Elders and Knowledge Keepers honoured Elder Dr. Dave Courchene, Jr. and his spiritual names, Nitamabit (The Original Way and One who Sits in Front) and Nii Gaani Aki Inini (Leading Earth Man) yesterday, in recognition of his leadership and role identified by his names, his service to the People and Mother Earth, and his work in fulfillment of the dream and vision of the Turtle Lodge to awaken, nurture and strengthen the spirit in all Peoples.

Yesterday, while hundreds gathered at the Turtle Lodge to honour Elder Dr Dave Courchene and his Vision of Turtle Lodge, Governor General Mary Simon hosted a simultaneous event in his honour at Rideau Hall. Listen to her remarks here.

Grandmother Katherine Whitecloud discusses the root of addictions: an imbalance from unresolved trauma, being disconnected from the land and our ancestral ways of being. To address these issues, Grandmother Katherine teaches about the importance of understanding our individual gifts and the roles and responsibilities the Creator has put us on Earth to fulfill, which can be learned by attending ceremony in our Lodges, guided by the love and support from the Elders and our families.

The Turtle Lodge International Centre for Indigenous Education and Wellness has partnered with the Sagkeeng Mino Pimatiziwin Family Treatment Centre to share teachings and provide guidance on how to heal from addictions.

Join us over the next few weeks, as we share messages from members of the National Turtle Lodge Council of Elders and Knowledge Keepers that discuss the root causes of addictions and how we can heal to live a more balanced and healthy life.

Click here to view a playlist for the series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_wQ7QfAR0Hy9-LZsoVhKxSgQiQdDPIxs

The Turtle Lodge International Centre for Indigenous Education and Wellness is a place for reconnecting to the Earth & sharing Indigenous ancestral knowledge, founded on the 7 Sacred Laws. Visit our website at www.turtlelodge.org to learn more.

Follow us on social media:
Facebook (@turtlelodge)
Twitter (@turtlelodge)
Instagram (@theturtlelodge)

Wolf Joe is an exciting and brand-new animated series follows the daily adventures of Joe, a young First Nations boy who, with his two best friends, is inspired by the universal values of The Seven Teachings Wheel to explore his Indigenous culture, heritage and identity.

The children’s series was created in collaboration and partnership with the Turtle Lodge, Media Rendezvous and Amberwood Entertainment.

Wolf Joe, a 46 x 11 mins animated action adventure series, is a TVOkids Original!

AIEF Alum Unngoorra Harbour (Queensland University of Technology; St Joseph’s Nudgee College, 2015) congratulates the Class of 2020 on their achievements.

Australian Indigenous Education Foundation.

Cree Elder A.J. Felix at The Turtle Lodge

Cree Elder A.J. Felix speaks and shares a song at the Turtle Lodge Central House of Knowledge - March 19, 2020 | At the ceremonial launching of "Wahbanung - The Resurgence of a People: Clearing the Path for Our Survival"

This song is for sharing:

"Wake up, my Grandson!
Wake up, my Granddaughter!

Your children are hurting.
Wake up!

Your children don’t even know how to pray.
Wake up!

Your grandchildren are not learning good things!
Wake up!

Your people are not even getting along, they don’t even visit each other.
Wake up!

The old people are not looking after each other. They’re not visiting. They’re not acknowledging each other.
Wake up!

Wake up, my Grandson!
Wake up, my Granddaughter!

We’re not sharing anything with each other, we’re stingy.
Wake up!

How can we be blessed? We’re not sharing.
How can we be healthy? We’re not even kin. We’re not even being relative to each other. We’re not even visiting our sisters and our brothers.
Wake up!

You’re not even telling your Mum, “I love you!”
You’re not even telling your Dad, “I love you!”
Wake up!

You’re not practicing your spirituality that the Creator, Lord God, had given you. The humility that you’re supposed to have. You’re not practicing it.
Wake up."

Four Gifts Elder A.J. Felix Gives Away

1. Pray. Not a long prayer, a short prayer. Make it to the point.

2. When you pray, Cry. Mean it. Mean your prayer, which means have tears. If you want it bad enough, you’ll cry. And the spirit world, the whole universe, when you cry, will stop and listen to you.

3. Never go around trying to buy luck. Never go around trying to buy something that will hurt someone else. Don’t go around trying to buy success. You don’t know what you're buying and you don’t know from whom you’re buying. You can hurt your home, you can hurt yourself, you can hurt your family, by buying.

4. Now that you are a praying person, a crying person, watchful of your life and your lifestyle, you’re going to be successful. You’re going to be okay. Your home is going to be alright. You’re not going to have fear, you’re not going to be scared, because you’re doing these first two, three things, and doing them well. The last thing is – now that you’re ok, be humble. Don’t go around boasting because you’re ok. Share your wealth, share your food, share what little you’ve got, with those who really need it bad. And you’ll be ok. You'll be successful.


www.turtlelodge.org
The Turtle Lodge on Facebook

AIEF Ambassador Stan Grant talks about why AIEF is a practical solution in the challenge of bridging the divide between advantaged and disadvantaged members of Australian society.

Tipi Tales are adventures in story and song. Elizabeth, Junior, Russell and Sam play, laugh and grow together in the forest surrounding the home of their great-grandparents. Each story centers around the daily challenges faced by the cousins as they seek to understand each other and the world around them.

The children learn the tools of life from enchanting forest animals who embody the seven ancient aboriginal laws.