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EPISODE FOUR :
WIIKWEMKOONG UNCEDED TERRITORY
Wiikwemkoong, located on the eastern end of Manitoulin Island, in northern Ontario is home to the Anishinaabeg people of the Three Fires Confederacy. Despite the many challenges the community faces, including overcoming intergenerational trauma, securing personal sustainability and maintaining language and culture, they are focused on being self-reliant. Meet Annette, Lynn and Rolland, and Nicole who through their spiritual journeys are creating safe spaces for themselves and their community members.
OUR STORYTELLERS
MEDECINE
mashkiki
Since time immemorial, Indigenous people across Turtle Island have used plants to prevent illness and treat disease. Over 400 different species of plants, lichens and fungi are known to have valuable medical properties and are used in traditional medicine to this day.
The plants used for medicine, known in Ojibwe as mashkiki, are treated with a great deal of reverence and respect. They are considered sacred; a gift from the Creator to help humans in the journey of life.
The medicine wheel represents earth’s boundaries and all the knowledge that is contained in the universe. Each direction on the wheel represents teaching and has a sacred medicine associated with it; namely tobacco, sweetgrass, cedar and sage.
Tobacco (asemaa) sits at the eastern door of the medicine wheel and is the “first” medicine given by the creator. It is offered before picking other medicines and is considered to be a direct connection with the spirit world. The plant has long been used as a pain reliever as well as an antiseptic, applied to cuts to prevent bleeding and infection.
Cedar (giizhik) sits at the southern door of the medicine wheel and is a purifier and a restorative. The floor of a sweat lodge is always lined with cedar and considered a protector. Therapeutically, it is used in teas or baths and has been shown to help cure respiratory illnesses and relieve fevers and flu symptoms.
Sage (bashkodejiibik) sits at the western door of the medicine wheel and cleanses the spirit, chasing away negative energies and clearing the mind. When burned, it purifies spaces and cleanses sacred items. The plant is known to help with pain relief, as an anti-inflammatory and an anti-oxidant, used to treat ailments like diabetes, heart diseases and a weakened immune system.
Sweetgrass (wiingashk) sits at the northern door of the medicine wheel and is the sacred hair of Mother Earth, braided into strands. Its sweet aroma has a calming effect and reminds people of kindness, love and the gentleness of Mother Earth. It is often used in smudging ceremonies and helps treat coughs, sore throats and fevers.
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