Indigenous and Community Relations Circle
Journeying together towards healing, reconciliation and right relationships with All
May 2023 ICRC Digest Issue 008
Dear Sisters,
The sun is shining and the birds are singing. You can see everywhere is green. Trees and flowers are blooming, starting a new journey. Let me tell you a story: we have a garden and near the garden is a pine tree. On top of the tree is a crows’ nest. Every day, I would look at it through a window. One day, I saw two of the crows chasing a squirrel- their enemy. I thought “What happened? Why are they so angry and chasing the squirrel?” After a while, I found out; they thought the squirrel had tried to steal their babies because the squirrel was near the tree and they chased it away. They tried to do their best to protect their babies. Usually the squirrels and crows live in harmony with each other. I could not believe what I had just seen but it’s true. And we too are on the journey of healing and reconciliation, walking together with our Indigenous peoples.
In conclusion, we are very grateful and happy to receive your contributions: a snippet of events you have attended, related books you have read, resolutions you have made, reconciliation prayers you have prayed, a poem you meditated on…the list goes on. Please send your contribution by email to maithuongrndm@gmail.com
“Sweat Lodge”- In the Womb of Mother Earth
“For You formed my inmost being;
You knit me together in my mother’s womb”1
(Psalm 139:13)
Psalm 139 is one of my favorite prayers which I often meditate on during my annual retreat. Experiencing when I experienced my first “Sweat Lodge” in Key Reserve, I came to understand more deeply how precious it is for me to understand being “formed” in my mother’s womb and “born” to a new life”. This experience, moreover, brought me a profound sense of being “re-formed” in Mother Earth’s womb and “re-born” to a deeper spiritual and cultural understanding of Indigenous values. I appreciate learning the meaning of every ritual which helps bring a greater consciousness to my faith practice.
I take each step slowly and respectfully but filled with awe and joy in the surprises Mother Earth has in store for me. In the womb of Mother Earth, I experienced the power of healing and cleansing through the natural elements: fire, air, water, and earth. The explanations from the elders during the process were very helpful and valuable to me as I allowed myself to be deep within the Creator’s embrace.
I keep thanking God for giving me this precious opportunity to learn about life values and the importance of the connectedness between the Creator, humans, and nature. I appreciate and pray for my new friends whom I met there and their warm welcome, and generous sharing of their wisdom.
[Nguyen Thi Thien Huong, RNDM]
Sharing Circle at Dial- A- Life
The indigenous people from the North come to the Dial-A-Life center in Winnipeg for medication and Dialysis. Before Covid we went there once a month for a prayer service in the office building. During the Covid restrictions we were not allowed to use that building. During winter we didn’t have prayer services there. But during summer, we had prayer service outside under the trees.
In May we went for our first time for our prayer service. When we arrived there some of them were waiting for us. They are very faithful to God and like to receive communion. During the service we prayed together, shared, and listened to each other’s stories. We read the Gospel for Accession Sunday. We then shared about our experiences of people whom we loved and had lost by death. Each person shared stories about their loved one.
I shared about my Grandma. When I was small she took care of me.
When I would have a problem or be sad, she always loved and consoled me. We were very close to each other.One time I thought that when my Grandma died, I would die with her. I would like to be buried beside her. Fifteen years later I joined the Congregation. When I was a second year novice, I took a flight to my mission experience. Later on I made my first profession and I was missioned to another place. During her old age, she became forgetful but she remembered me. My mother told me that when she would see a plane in flight, she would call out my name and say, “come, come I am here”. In 2009 I went on holiday and I spent my time with her. After three days she had a heart-attack and passed away in my arms. I could not go with her but I was beside her with my prayer and presence.
Our sharing time in the group was sad, but we consoled and comforted each other. We then spent time just talking and sharing food and drinks.
[Nwe Ni Oo (Helen), RNDM]
Spring Powwow
On Saturday the 22nd April, Thuong and I had an opportunity to participate in the Spring Powwow hosted by the First Nation University of Regina at the Brandt center. This was the first big event of the year that we were able to join. We had to stand in a long line in order to get the required tickets. Thousands gathered to attend the program, young and old. After a long winter, the event was a reunion for families, friends, and the community. The event was also an opportunity to pray for all those who have gone to the Creator. The Grand Entry began with honoring all the Veterans, Government officials, students and those who held different posts. There were cheers and gratitude as they walked along. Behind them were all the dancers, from toddlers to elders all dressed in different costumes. There were competitions, honoring of birthdays and many other activities. I could say it was really a colorful and joyful event, enjoyed by all after the very long cold winter.
[Pricilla Lugan, RNDM]
How Do I Find the Creator?
I would like to share my reflections on my experience of attending The Key Reserve Sweat Lodge Ceremony to which ReAnne invited Pricilla, Thuong, Thien, and me. The ceremony opened the four day Vision Quest. I reached for a book by Richard Wagamese, an Ojibway writer. I found a meditation in which he describes the heart and soul of the indigenous wisdom around ceremonies.
Me: (Richard) How do I find the Creator?
Old woman: You become what you seek.
Me: I don’t understand.
Old woman: You decide what the Creator is. If you decide, ‘Is She Peace, Love, Humility, and Non-judgement? you decide to work embodying those qualities in your walkabout world. The closer you get to that, the closer you are to finding the Creator in you, what She was and always will be.
(Richard Wagamese, EMBERS p.122)
As we were preparing to go to this ceremony I knew they were sacred moments of prayer for the indigenous people. We had readied ourselves with the list of items that ReAnne had given us. We had many more questions about protocol.
However, when we arrived at the ceremonial site near the banks of a Lake surrounded by woods that were still in their winter garb, any insecurity we may have felt melted away. We were greeted by their warm welcome, hospitality, and humor of the community. We met the Elder and the Chief who had come to lead the pipe ceremony. We learned that the Sweat Lodge itself was representing the womb, where all life is generated.
The “grandfather” rocks, and the fire was finally lit which would heat the rocks for the ceremony, symbolizing the energy of the Creator.
We also learned that when a woman is on her monthly “moon time”, she is honored and would sit outside and away from the sweat lodge. The reason for this is that the woman is on a ceremony of potential life bearing itself – the very heart of the Creator’s gift.
We gave our offerings of tobacco and prayer panels of colored cloth to the elder who listened and received our prayer intentions with a prayer in Cree; he then blessed the prayer cloths and gave them back to us. We carried them into the Sweat Lodge. After the sweat lodge we hung them on the trees. A few hours later we entered the sweat lodge. The prayers, chanting, and even laughter were led by four Elders during our time together. Before leaving the sweat lodge we shared bowls of salmon, corn and blueberries. We left the sweat lodge and later gathered around the circle for the feast and sharing of conversation. The four people that were on the Vision Quest went to their camp sites for their time of fasting and prayer.
We were asked not to take photos but as I close my eyes I can see our prayer clothes and those of others, who have prayed there over the years, flapping in the wind, shining in the sun, weeping in the rain delighting in the creatures … together through the seasons. Our prayers live on. We are but a strand in the web of life. The Creator is in our midst.
[Patricia Orban, RNDM]
Round Dance
On Saturday night 6th, Srs. Patricia, Pricilla and I went to PiaPot Reserve to attend a round dance party for a girl who was celebrating her 18th birthday. I was so excited about this because it was a first time for me. We began with a very simple feast; whoever wished contributed food, put it in a common place and shared with everyone afterward. Just like the early Christian community, we shared everything we had: one bowl of chicken soup, an orange, some candies, a piece of fried bannock, etc. One man took a little bit of every food and put it into a bowl and gave it to the elderly to pray and offer to the Creator. Then some men served food for us. I learnt that whenever you want to ask somebody to do something, you need to offer tobacco or cigarettes. This is a tradition.
After the feast, we had some round dances. The drummers were in the middle and the dancers around the circle. An interesting detail for me was the little boy (two or three years old) who was one of the drummers. He was extremely enthusiasm to sing and drum. The other thing was that everyone knew the songs and sang along with the drummers. They had many groups of drummers, and each group performed four songs. They drummed, sang and danced with their whole hearts, and I could feel they were in unity. After a few rounds of dancing, I felt very tired especially my legs, but they didn’t. I admired them because they continued dancing and singing. However I was very happy and thankful to see so many generations danced together, passing the traditions down to the younger generations. I hope they will continue to grow and keep their culture alive to enrich and preserve their culture and traditions.
[Thuong Truong, RNDM]
United in God
When I was in Winnipeg, I learned how to make bannock from an Indigenous woman. Besides making bannock, she taught me a lot of good things. The ingredients to make bannock is very simple and easy to find. For many years I did not make any bannock, so I had forgotten the recipe and method. . Luckily I had a great opportunity to learn how to do it again with a Kokum in Regina. It is very simple; all the ingredients are put together and mixed with warm water. But I needed to do it by hands so I could feel it, not too wet and not too dry. Believe it or not, it is similar to making bread; you need to make a good dough. However, I couldn’t separate out the dough; all was in one lump.
I remembered Jesus said, “You and I are one, and nobody can take you away from me”. Then it was time to put the dough to the oven with just the right temperature, otherwise it will not rise. You won’t believe what happen in the oven. The dough eventually rose and became bannock. At that time, I could do nothing except to be patience and wait. I had done my part and God would have to do the rest. When I trust and am united with God, God will give me the courage and strength to go through the challenging times; like the dough in the oven which is transformed into a delicious bannock.
[Thuong Truong, RNDM]
1 Psalms for Praying by Nan C. Merrill. https://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/book-reviews/view/16694/psalms-for-praying
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