On March 19, ahead of Minookimi (Spring), Sagamok Education’s Student Mental Wellness Specialist, Raven Hammond, co-facilitated a Spring Renewal Wellness Teaching with Cultural Worker, Bernadette Southwind. Community members and staff attended a Welcoming Minookimi Lunch & Learn at the Lifelong Learning Centre from 12-3pm.
Attendees were warmly greeted by Bernadette and Raven. The learning session opened in a good way with an Anishinaabemowin prayer, a traditional smudge, and Miigwechiwendamowin for Mino-bimaadiziwin. Guests enjoyed trays of fresh fruits, vegetables, cold meats, cheeses, and homemade pies, offering a taste of biizigwong (another term for Spring, meaning everything is cueing up).
Since this was an opportunity to learn, Bernadette took great care to explain the purpose and meaning of everything she included in the session. For example, the smudge is performed to cleanse ourselves in preparation for ceremony, or, in this case, the Lunch & Learn, and the intentions/gratitude we put forth are carried up to Creator through the smoke from the smouldering sage and medicines. Raven explained that she and Bernadette wanted to invite the community to welcome Spring, because they both feel Spring itself promotes wellness and renewal; that is essentially what Spring is – Minookimi means ‘spring up from the ground and/or late spring’.
Further into the session, the co-facilitators invited attendees to offer examples of what they associate with Spring. These were some of the responses:
- Healing journey
- Spiritual awakening
- Renewal – seeing things differently
- New life – budding of trees/start of new life
- Things are growing or expanding.
- New birth is witnessed (baby birds), which brings us back to our centre – the Creation Story – our first days on Earth.
- Plants – start from seeds from Mother Earth, and just like us as humans, we started as a seed that was planted [from our father into our mother], and when we water and nourish ourselves, we grow!
Wellness springs forth when we look outside and notice winter loosening its grip – the birds are more active, tree branches crack together in the breeze, losing the residual layer of ice and snow, and if we indulge our senses and actively focus, the sights, sounds, and our emotions pick up on everything starting to grow and change.
Bernadette continued by sharing that Anishinaabe use the medicine wheel because it has healing properties. When we look to the Eastern doorway, we embark on a journey of self-healing and care. We fast in the Spring to renew and cleanse ourselves after the long winter, and to restore our bodies. Bernadette brought to everyone’s attention that every person in the room had knowledge to share. “We all bring something different to this session; we all hold knowledge. I don’t pretend to think I have all the answers, because when I look around the room, I know that all of us have lived experiences that are valuable for each other’s growth,” she said. “In the same way we open the windows or doors to let in the fresh air and the new light, we can allow new growth and release those things that are stagnant. Everything becomes alive, and we create things anew.”
Bernadette shared her personal story with the group, which demonstrated Spring renewal. “I understood that thinking things by myself (all on my own) wasn’t going to be enough; I needed guides. There were some things I needed to do to grow, and that started with me at the Eastern door and in the Springtime – a time of growth from the ground up and a period of renewal – Minookimi.” Bernadette explained the significance of Anishinaabek respect for nibi (water). “We honour nibi because we need nibi to live, and we came from nibi in our mother’s womb and in our father’s sperm. When the snow melts, there is a lot of water everywhere. We place tobacco in the water because our prayers and intentions will go in many directions. Even helpers in the waterways will give assistance to carry your prayers onward.”
Attendees were then invited to decorate a windchime in celebration of Spring. The creative freedom allowed an opportunity for self-reflection to flow and be supported by the fellowship found within the group setting. Bernadette offered gentle encouragement throughout, “The reason I chose the windchime activity to support this teaching is that the gentle breeze starts to blow once again, and the sound of the chimes is therapeutic too. Wellness springs forth.” Using paints, stickers, glitter, and bling -- a variety of inspirational craft supplies -- attendees created their own unique windchimes while openly sharing what they had learned and how they felt about the teaching provided.
While some commented that they knew parts of the teaching, they appreciated what was delivered and could now fill in the gaps with what they gleaned from today’s session. Many expressed this identical sentiment: they enjoyed working with their hands, grounding themselves, preparing for Spring, and taking time out to heal. They were excited for the new things that lay ahead with the change of the season and appreciated hearing the teaching to support them on their journey.
Bernadette closed the learning session with a prayer of gratitude. A helper shared the pitcher of nibi (water) with each person, who individually held out their cupped left hand (closest to the heart) to receive the life-giving liquid. The cupped hand held just enough water to offer refreshment. This aligns with Spring by supporting new beginnings and new life, and also avoiding unnecessary use of disposable cups, restoring Mother Earth’s health. Miigwech to Bernadette and Raven for offering this restorative Lunch & Learn, Welcoming Minookimi, as an opportunity for growth, renewal, and wellness to help prepare us in a good way for the new season upon us – Spring.