10/04/2024
My older brother passed away recently, presenting me with my own mortality and how little time any of us have on our journey here. I had been apart from my family and my heritage for more than forty years, realizing too late how little I remembered about burials and rituals.
In the midst of my grief came my younger brother, now an Elder named Running with Wolves, he helped me reconnect with my culture and showed me how to deal with my loss in a productive way. Running with Wolves exposed my children and grandchildren to indigenous ceremonies for the first time with great patience and care. Helping all of us along the path to letting go and carrying on with our journey.
He performed the Pipe, Smudging and Fire ceremonies at our brother’s celebration of life with grace. Bringing everyone a sense of peace and harmony with the whole process of life and death.
Reconnecting with my culture helped me find a piece of myself that I hadn’t realized was missing. When life’s path took me away from my family, my past and the culture that held it all together, a conflict was created within me that did not fall silent until I was guided back to the beliefs of my childhood.
Listening to Running with Wolves explain each ceremony and the story behind it to my family reminded me of sitting with our grandma in her kitchen enjoying a cup of tea as she spoke to me in Cree of the Creator and Mother Earth and Father Moon.
I smiled at the memory of family I felt and was grateful that the Elder had brought this experience to my family. I was proud to be a part of this culture full of Creation stories and wise Elders.
I no longer understand my native tongue, my ears have not heard it since my Kookum died, and the Elder spoke English in respect to those attending. Yet hearing the stories while the drums played spoke to me, even if the drums were only recorded, I felt the heartbeat of Mother Earth within me.
I will be forever grateful to Running with Wolves for performing the elder services and bringing me peace. He knows his place in the universe very well and lets his inner light shine with great pride and strength.
All of Running with Wolves elder services are free, donations accepted.
