Mah Pe Ya Mini (Henry Skywater) was a great leader - a respected Elder, Knowledge Keeper and ceremonial leader from the Dakota Nation. Henry sang this ancient Dakota song he referred to as the

Mah Pe Ya Mini (Henry Skywater) was a great leader - a respected Elder, Knowledge Keeper and ceremonial leader from the Dakota Nation. Henry sang this ancient Dakota song he referred to as the Spirit of Life song often. He would share the Dakota creation story of a little blue light that would come from a little house in the heavens to enter a mother's womb, make a journey on the earth as it walks its life as human being, and then return back to the little house in the heavens. The meaning of the Spirit of Life song, as shared by Henry Skywater, is: Lightning beings! It's me! It's me! (x2) There is a house in the heavens where I was born It's me! It's me! Lightning beings! It's me! It's me! (x2) This song is being shared with the permission of Henry Skywater's family, who are sharing the song to continue his work of helping the people. This video is posted on behalf of the Turtle Lodge, where Henry Skywater was an Elder and Knowledge Keeper for many years, and the Elders Circle Seven, who created the Mikinak-Keya Spirit Tour at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, as a tribute in honour of Elder Henry Skywater. http://www.turtlelodge.org/staff-view/mah-pe-ya-mini-henry-skywater/ Song recorded and video edited by Nu Media Films

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Panel Discussion with Knowledge Keepers – Part 1/ June 23, 2020

(Canada)

In honour of National Indigenous Peoples Day, Anishinaabe Elder Dr. David Courchene, Métis

Panel Discussion with Knowledge Keepers – Part 1/ June 23, 2020

(Canada)

In honour of National Indigenous Peoples Day, Anishinaabe Elder Dr. David Courchene, Métis Cree knowledge keeper Maria Campbell, and Inuk professor and Elder Dr. Karla J. Williamson participated in a panel discussion with Canadian Ministers Carolyn Bennett, Marc Miller, and Dan Vandal. This first installment in a two-part conversation touches on a variety of important topics to Indigenous peoples across Canada.(transcript)

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Reconciling Ways of Knowing Series, Dialogue 1: "Why Reconciling Ways of Knowing?" This dialogue originally streamed live on July 27, 2020 at 10:00 am Pacific / 12:00 pm Central / 2:00 pm Atlantic.

Reconciling Ways of Knowing Series, Dialogue 1: "Why Reconciling Ways of Knowing?" This dialogue originally streamed live on July 27, 2020 at 10:00 am Pacific / 12:00 pm Central / 2:00 pm Atlantic. Moderator Valérie Courtois facilitates a dialogue amongst Miles Richardson, O.C.; Dr. David Suzuki; Dr. Nancy Turner; and Elder Dr. Dave Courchene, Jr.; on the need for reconciliation between Indigenous and Western scientific ways of knowing. In our first dialogue in this series - "Why Do We Need to Reconcile Ways of Knowing?" - these leaders in working at the confluence of Indigenous and scientific knowledge and decision making discuss the events, issues and relationships that made it clear that a national-scale dialogue to facilitate just reconciliation between the ways of knowing and ways of being of Indigenous Peoples and Canadians, and their respective governments, is needed. They speak to how such reconciliation between these different life-ways is the essential precondition for addressing a series of growing stewardship challenges we are facing, including escalating climate change and biodiversity loss, and for setting ourselves on the right footing as we move forward through and after the impacts of COVID-19. More info at https://www.waysofknowingforum.ca/dialogue1 and www.turtlelodge.org

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DAVE COURCHENE (LEADING EARTH MAN) shares the meaning of Onjisay Aki. As the Original Peoples, we have lived here in our homeland for tens of thousands of years. Our Earth is changing, and so must

DAVE COURCHENE (LEADING EARTH MAN) shares the meaning of Onjisay Aki. As the Original Peoples, we have lived here in our homeland for tens of thousands of years. Our Earth is changing, and so must we as People. Onjisay Aki means "a changing Earth" in our Anishinabe language. It's also the name of a journey we are on together. Our ancestors left a footprint, a trail founded on Indigenous values of respect, which can lead us all to have a healthy relationship with each other and the planet. Our children are depending on us to follow in those footsteps, walking this trail of peace. www.turtlelodge.org Join The Turtle Lodge on Facebook! With the help of filmmakers Ian Mauro, a founding director of the Prairie Climate Centre, and Marcel Kreutzer from the University of Winnipeg, we created a video of Dave explaining the meaning of Onjisay Aki.

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The First Igniting the Fire Gathering was held at the sacred site of Manitou Api in the geographic centre of Turtle Island (North America) - at Bannock Point in Manitoba's Whiteshell Provincial Park.

The First Igniting the Fire Gathering was held at the sacred site of Manitou Api in the geographic centre of Turtle Island (North America) - at Bannock Point in Manitoba's Whiteshell Provincial Park. Elder Dave Courchene received a vision to call the people back to the ancient sacred site, which had been used for thousands of years by the Original Peoples from all over Turtle Island for gathering, meeting, sharing ceremony, dreams, visions and prophecies. This historic first gathering features the late respected Elders Robin Greene and Don Cardinal. The Elders gave special permission for parts of this special ceremonial gathering to be recorded and shared. "During the event of the gathering, there was an appearance of many little turtles. The Elders said this was a sign of a time of a new life, a sign that the rebirth of our people had taken place at this event." The Turtle Lodge is responsible for initiating Igniting the Fire – The Sacred Gathering, an annual gathering of Elders, Youth, Adults, Parents, Students, Educators and Researchers, led by indigenous people and open to people of all cultures and backgrounds. Igniting the Fire – The Sacred Gathering has been held annually in the sacred site of Manitou Api in the Whiteshell Provincial Park, Manitoba, Canada. At this gathering, nations gather the way our ancestors did since time immemorial on our sacred sites, to share knowledge, medicines, ceremonies and prophecies. It is a gathering where our Elders transfer their knowledge to youth and adults, following the protocol of our old ways. The 1st Annual Igniting the Fire gathering was held in 2006, with 350 people attending. In 2007, numbers rose to over 1000. Several documentaries and films have been produced based on the gathering, including The 8th Fire (see www.the8thfire.org). For more information on the Igniting the Fire Gathering, organized by Turtle Lodge, please see: http://www.turtlelodge.org/cause-view/igniting-the-fire/ http://www.turtlelodge.org/staff-view/dave-courchene-jr/

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