Sacred Water Created by Sharon Meyer NESD FNMI June, 2015

Cree First Nation Worldview The Creator created four things above Mother Earth: 1 – Sun 2 – Sky 3 – Moon 4 - Stars

wind fire rock water Then the Creator made the four elements: 1 – wind 2 – fire 3 – rock 4 – water

First Nation Traditional view of water is the sacredness of the element. Without it there would be no existence. Water represents the veins of Mother Earth. It is in comparison to the veins within our body that flows blood. The veins of Mother Earth are the rivers and streams that flow throughout the body of Mother Earth. Ocean flow on Mother Earth River flow through a city River flow from a sky view

Many creation stories in relation to Turtle Island and water First Nation traditional worldview recognizes Water as the first living spirit on Mother Earth. It gives life to all creation. It is viewed as a gift from the Creator. Babies are surrounded in water while their mothers carry them for nine months.

Water surrounds us in various ways: Can you think of other ways that water is in your life? dew Spring water

We all use water for everyday purposes: First Nations have a variety of cultural and social practices that involve water. These include places of prayer and bathing, stories, dancing and oral histories about water or water bodies, sweat lodges, purification ceremonies, drinking water collection sites, spring water of spiritual significance, medicinal plants nourished by water of spiritual significance, and medicine making. Drink water Have a bath Wash clothes Wash hands Swim Use water for pleasure or catch food Water is used to clean things like washing a car. Can you think of other ways that you use water?

Traditional worldview of First Nation people(s) understand that their relationship with water is built on the subsistence ways of life that extends back thousands of years. In the relation to the water they advocate for the water rights and want to protect the health of Water that Mother Earth gives. Kelly Derrickson - Idle No More Music Video (Official HD) 3:22

Water can be dangerous: Hurricane Flood Tsunami Hail Ice storm Snowstorm What are other ways that water can be dangerous?

What do we need water for? Water is used to prepare items for creating cultural crafts by pre-soaking and softening the material such as hides and branches. Softening hide Soaking willow branches so that the wood will bend without breaking Wash food and meat before cooking Water is used to pour on Grandfather rocks inside the sweatlodge to create steam for purification.

RainThe Creator put Grandfather Thunder in the west sky. The people would become the grandchildren. As good Grandfathers do they visit their grandchildren. In doing so Grandfather Thunder will use the drum to send the big thunder voice across the sky to let them know you are coming so they can get ready to receive you. Protecting Our Sacred Water – the Jane Goodall Insittue of Canada Everything all ties together. So this water is one element but we need the trees, the water from this area to provide life for the trees. We need the trees to provide fires….And we need the earth to provide soil for the trees. It all ties in with this water. It is the life source for all those elements and it all ties in. Everything relies on everything and that’s what creates a balance. So when one of those things is taken out of there it creates a domino effect. Documentary First Nation Perspective on Water by Matthew Roy WATER JOURNEY – Trailer 3:37

Water concerns! "Drinking from the sea", explore how and why sea water is desalinated (motion design) 2:19

If tap water was safe: Jane Goodall Institute and Learning for a Sustainable Future

Has a video explaining interconnectedness of all living things to water 1: %20Classroom%20Activities%20on%20First%20Nations%20in%20Canada.pdf Unit 3 Water: Its Many Uses Some teachings about water: content/assets/lessonplans/gr8/In_the_News.pdf Gr. 8 lesson – In the news – water on First Nation Reservations content/assets/lessonplans/gr8/Story_of_Bottled_Water.pdf Gr. 8 lesson – The story of Bottled Water K,%20Four%20Elements,%20Fire,%20Rock,%20Water,%20Wind.pdf Pre-k – Gr. 1 the teachings of the four elements Gr. 5-6 Water and North America Bird Island - Plastic Vs Nature 3:53

Thank you for learning the First Nation way of understanding our place on Turtle Island and Mother Earth. Sharon Meyer – NESD FNMI