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The Spirit Lives in the MindOmushkego Stories, Lives, and Dreams |
eBook Available
Renowned storyteller Louis Bird shares the teachings and stories about Swampy Cree culture collected over three decades.
Louis Bird has spent the last three decades documenting Cree oral traditions and sharing his stories with audiences in Canada, the United States, and Europe. In The Spirit Lives in the Mind the renowned storyteller and historian of the Omushkego shares teachings and stories of the Swampy Cree people that have been passed down from generation to generation as part of a rich oral tradition.
Cree spiritual beliefs revolve around the sacred places and rich landscape of the Hudson Bay lowlands. The beautiful narratives in The Spirit Lives in the Mind illuminate the meaning and value of spiritual maturity and power, the parallels between Omushkego morality and Roman Catholic teachings, and the importance of maintaining the traditional stories. Bird also offers explanations of shamanism and demonstrates how Catholicism affected Cree tradition.
Bird collaborated with Susan Elaine Gray, who worked from many years of learning about and teaching Aboriginal culture and traditions in compiling his narratives and personal testament for The Spirit Lives in the Mind. It is a remarkable evocation of aboriginal storytelling about the Cree peoples, their landscape, and their places in the sky
Cree spiritual beliefs revolve around the sacred places and rich landscape of the Hudson Bay lowlands. The beautiful narratives in The Spirit Lives in the Mind illuminate the meaning and value of spiritual maturity and power, the parallels between Omushkego morality and Roman Catholic teachings, and the importance of maintaining the traditional stories. Bird also offers explanations of shamanism and demonstrates how Catholicism affected Cree tradition.
Bird collaborated with Susan Elaine Gray, who worked from many years of learning about and teaching Aboriginal culture and traditions in compiling his narratives and personal testament for The Spirit Lives in the Mind. It is a remarkable evocation of aboriginal storytelling about the Cree peoples, their landscape, and their places in the sky
Details
Part of the Rupert's Land Record Society Series (number 9 in series)
256 Pages, 6 x 9
ISBN 9780773532106
February 2007
Formats: Paperback, Cloth, eBook
“this book is truly amazing” John S Long, Nipissing University, Manitoba History
"The discussion of spiritual power and the role it plays in Omushkego stories and lives lays a foundation for understanding personal power, how it is obtained and used, and the role of dreams and the seasons in Cree life." William Schneider, professor/curator, Oral History, Elmer E. Rasmuson Library, University of Alaska Fairbanks
" extensive, rich, and multi-thematic ... valuable insight into the Omushkego world view and history that would benefit not only classrooms and research projects but also courtrooms, government offices, and disciplines such as Aboriginal studies, literature, colonialism and post-colonialism, environmental studies, material culture, law, geography, and land claims research." The Canadian Historical Review
"The discussion of spiritual power and the role it plays in Omushkego stories and lives lays a foundation for understanding personal power, how it is obtained and used, and the role of dreams and the seasons in Cree life." William Schneider, professor/curator, Oral History, Elmer E. Rasmuson Library, University of Alaska Fairbanks
" extensive, rich, and multi-thematic ... valuable insight into the Omushkego world view and history that would benefit not only classrooms and research projects but also courtrooms, government offices, and disciplines such as Aboriginal studies, literature, colonialism and post-colonialism, environmental studies, material culture, law, geography, and land claims research." The Canadian Historical Review
Louis Bird is an Omushkego storyteller and scholar and the author of Telling Our Stories: Omushkego Legends and Histories from Hudson Bay. A member of Winisk First Nation, he lives in Peawanuck, near the shore of Hudson Bay.
Susan Elaine Gray is research associate, Canada Research Chair in Aboriginal Peoples in an Urban and Regional Context, University of Winnipeg, and the author of "I Will Fear No Evil": Ojibwa-Missionary Encounters Along the Berens River, 1875-1940.
Susan Elaine Gray is research associate, Canada Research Chair in Aboriginal Peoples in an Urban and Regional Context, University of Winnipeg, and the author of "I Will Fear No Evil": Ojibwa-Missionary Encounters Along the Berens River, 1875-1940.
Preface Susan Elaine Gray xi
Acknowledgments xxiii
Illustrations xxv
Map xxxii
Introduction 3
WATER, EARTH AND SKIES 6
The Land and the Spirit 6
Mooshawow and Wabagamushusagagan 8
The Shaman and the Narwhal Whisker 10
Rocks and their Stories 12
Places in the Skies 15
Giant Spider and the First People 15
Astronomy 17
Moshegiishik (The Universe) 19
Chakapesh 23
Chakapesh Gets Swallowed by a Fish 23
Chakapesh Snares the Sun 29
Chakapesh in the Moon 36
Mysteries in the Sky 37
INTRUDERS AND DEFENDERS 39
Encounters on Mooshawow 39
Ostigwan Nowakow (The Place of Skulls) 43
A Mitew Attack with a Lightning Gun 45
Ships, Mysterious and Real 48
PAKAASKOKAN, AN ANCIENT LEGEND AND MYSTERY 51
VALUES FOR LIFE AND SURVIVAL 59
Dreams and Gifts 59
Christianity and Our Ways: Fear and Denial 60
Conversions to Christianity 62
Life after Death 64
The Power of the Orphan - a Resurrection Story 64
Healing and Faith 66
A Mitew Healer 66
Omushkego Individualism 68
Condemnation by Christianity 70
RELATIONS WITH ANIMALS 71
Animal Powers 71
Caribou Awareness 72
Caribou Messages 73
Code of Ethics: Dreams, Gifts, and Knowledge 74
Sinning Against Animals 76
Respect and Thanks for Animals 77
Violations and Consequences: The Hunters and the White Fox 78
MITEWIWIN HEROES AND VILLAINS 81
Mitewiwin: The Power of Dreams and the Mind 82
Science and Mystery 84
Dream Helpers 86
Becoming a Mitew 90
Dreaming the Elements 92
Mind Power through Dreams 94
Seasons and Places to Dream 95
Mitew Fasting and Self-Discipline 97
Healing 99
Animals and Power 102
Mitew Competitions 103
Defence and Warfare: Mitew Powers and Their Limitations 103
Mitew Duels and Insults 104
Protection through Non-Belief 106
Stories of Powerful Mitewak 107
Enduring Practice and Belief 108
Mitew Magical Travel - Not So Long Ago 109
Mitew or Christian, One or the Other? 111
WIHTIGOS AND CANNIBAL HEARTS 112
Becoming a Wihtigo 115
Burning Wihtigos 115
Anway and the Cannibals 116
The Mitew and the Cannibal Hearts 122
Ice Hearts 124
Ketastotinewan 125
WOMEN AND MEN 127
Women 127
Our Grandmothers’ Powers 128
Wilderness Woman 129
Morning Star, a Love Story, and the Spread of the Cree Language 132
Wife of Ketastotinewan 140
A Woman, Her Dream Father, and a Wihtigo Duel 141
Wihtigo, or the Consequences of Not Listening 146
Story of a Woman Helping a Captive Man 148
Story of a Captive Woman Conquering her Guard 151
PERSONAGES 153
The Defeat of the Giant Skunk 153
The Legless Man and the Boys Who Disobeyed 161
John Sakeny and Bernard Gull 165
Amoe and Sheweephan 167
WISAKAYCHAK 175
Wisakaychak the Rock Mover 175
Wisakaychak and the Woman Who Played Dead 178
Wisakaychak Pursues Women 180
Wisakaychak Tricks the Birds 184
Wisakaychak Cooks His Geese and Loses Them 187
Wisakaychak Tricks a Bear and Loses His Feast 190
Wisakaychak Goes West and Grants Two Wishes 193
Appendix Recordings by Louis Bird 199
Notes 203
Suggested Readings 207
Index 217
Acknowledgments xxiii
Illustrations xxv
Map xxxii
Introduction 3
WATER, EARTH AND SKIES 6
The Land and the Spirit 6
Mooshawow and Wabagamushusagagan 8
The Shaman and the Narwhal Whisker 10
Rocks and their Stories 12
Places in the Skies 15
Giant Spider and the First People 15
Astronomy 17
Moshegiishik (The Universe) 19
Chakapesh 23
Chakapesh Gets Swallowed by a Fish 23
Chakapesh Snares the Sun 29
Chakapesh in the Moon 36
Mysteries in the Sky 37
INTRUDERS AND DEFENDERS 39
Encounters on Mooshawow 39
Ostigwan Nowakow (The Place of Skulls) 43
A Mitew Attack with a Lightning Gun 45
Ships, Mysterious and Real 48
PAKAASKOKAN, AN ANCIENT LEGEND AND MYSTERY 51
VALUES FOR LIFE AND SURVIVAL 59
Dreams and Gifts 59
Christianity and Our Ways: Fear and Denial 60
Conversions to Christianity 62
Life after Death 64
The Power of the Orphan - a Resurrection Story 64
Healing and Faith 66
A Mitew Healer 66
Omushkego Individualism 68
Condemnation by Christianity 70
RELATIONS WITH ANIMALS 71
Animal Powers 71
Caribou Awareness 72
Caribou Messages 73
Code of Ethics: Dreams, Gifts, and Knowledge 74
Sinning Against Animals 76
Respect and Thanks for Animals 77
Violations and Consequences: The Hunters and the White Fox 78
MITEWIWIN HEROES AND VILLAINS 81
Mitewiwin: The Power of Dreams and the Mind 82
Science and Mystery 84
Dream Helpers 86
Becoming a Mitew 90
Dreaming the Elements 92
Mind Power through Dreams 94
Seasons and Places to Dream 95
Mitew Fasting and Self-Discipline 97
Healing 99
Animals and Power 102
Mitew Competitions 103
Defence and Warfare: Mitew Powers and Their Limitations 103
Mitew Duels and Insults 104
Protection through Non-Belief 106
Stories of Powerful Mitewak 107
Enduring Practice and Belief 108
Mitew Magical Travel - Not So Long Ago 109
Mitew or Christian, One or the Other? 111
WIHTIGOS AND CANNIBAL HEARTS 112
Becoming a Wihtigo 115
Burning Wihtigos 115
Anway and the Cannibals 116
The Mitew and the Cannibal Hearts 122
Ice Hearts 124
Ketastotinewan 125
WOMEN AND MEN 127
Women 127
Our Grandmothers’ Powers 128
Wilderness Woman 129
Morning Star, a Love Story, and the Spread of the Cree Language 132
Wife of Ketastotinewan 140
A Woman, Her Dream Father, and a Wihtigo Duel 141
Wihtigo, or the Consequences of Not Listening 146
Story of a Woman Helping a Captive Man 148
Story of a Captive Woman Conquering her Guard 151
PERSONAGES 153
The Defeat of the Giant Skunk 153
The Legless Man and the Boys Who Disobeyed 161
John Sakeny and Bernard Gull 165
Amoe and Sheweephan 167
WISAKAYCHAK 175
Wisakaychak the Rock Mover 175
Wisakaychak and the Woman Who Played Dead 178
Wisakaychak Pursues Women 180
Wisakaychak Tricks the Birds 184
Wisakaychak Cooks His Geese and Loses Them 187
Wisakaychak Tricks a Bear and Loses His Feast 190
Wisakaychak Goes West and Grants Two Wishes 193
Appendix Recordings by Louis Bird 199
Notes 203
Suggested Readings 207
Index 217
