Cultural Teaching during Professional Development Day for Daycare Staff
Shki Waase-Aaban Binoojiinh Gamik - Daycare held a Professional Development Day for staff members on November 10. The daycare was closed for staff to partake in scheduled training and information sessions, including a teaching from Cultural Worker, Wayne Southwind. He shared about the four common medicines – Tobacco, Cedar, Sweetgrass, and Sage – their historical uses and how they are still applicable to daily life today; where, how, and when to properly harvest and store these medicines, as well as how they are used in ceremony and the special meaning they carry with them.
Under Wayne’s guidance, staff created a hand-made leather medicine pouch to be worn around their neck or to carry on their person. Everyone was invited to first cleanse their minds through reflection and with a smudge to start the teaching in a good way. They learned about both the tradition of medicines and the pouch itself. Then, they were invited to sew their pouch in their own time, to spend time in reflection while making it, and to offer up their most positive intentions during the creative process. Each staff member was welcomed to choose the amount of each medicine to include, because each pouch is to be as unique as its owner. Wayne added that they could also place an item of personal significance inside the pouch if they chose to, something that would remain private to themselves. As previously mentioned, the four main medicines Anishinaabe historically use include: Semaa (Tobacco), Giishkaandak (Cedar), Wiingashk (Sweetgrass), and Mshkodewashk (Sage).
Teachings like these play an important role in ensuring that knowledge is passed on and culturally significant traditions continue to thrive. Not everyone has received these teachings, or may have received varying information throughout their lives. Incorporating these teachings into professional development offers staff a great opportunity to share ideas and ask questions to clarify and gain a greater understanding about Anishinaabe culture as well as how it applies to themself and coworkers. Staff often take this knowledge with them as they develop new learning units for Daycare Friends so that students can also absorb cultural teachings. It also allows staff to feel confident that the information they are sharing is accurate and meaningful for students as they utilize the medicines and teachings in day-to-day operations of the Daycare. Gchi miigwech to Wayne for offering this special opportunity to Daycare Staff on this Professional Development Day; for sharing your knowledge about medicines and the medicine pouch with everyone present, as well as providing all the necessary supplies.
