This is my friend Big John. He lives in Dwight now, but he comes complete with a colourful past. You can sometimes track him down at the Dwight Trading Post, and if you do, be sure to chat with him. He has a wealth of information to share. In this photo, he's wearing a ceremonial ribbon shirt, and carrying a talking stick and the red turtle case holder which contains his two treasured eagle feathers.
At a recent meeting, although Big John wasn't quite so impressively dressed, he was wearing his beads and medicine bag. That lead us into conversation.
That comment was enough for Big John. (a bit like in Olde England, when the Royal family mentioned they liked something, and immediately it was provided... back then, Royals had to be very careful about comments casually made... but I digress...) A few days later, Big John called to tell me he had left a little package for me at the Trading Post.
In that little packet was a beautiful piece of purple agate, and an Ojibway medicine wheel button. Agates are also known as chalcedony -- the name coming from the ancient city of Chalcedon in Asia Minor where it was first used as a gemstone. Here in Ontario, most of our agates come from the northern shores of the Great Lakes.
It wasn't enough for John to gift me with an agate, he felt the urge to educate as well (bless him!) He explains that a Native American medicine bag is a small leather bag or pouch that contains various healing objects. They are often painted or beaded with designs specific for the wearer. This is done to entice or invoke the spirit of the animal, figure or symbol. Big John still works extensively with Native Elders, and provides Healing Circles.
The Indian Name given to Big John by one of his Elders is Mishomis Mukwa, Ojibwa for Grandfather Bear. The Bear is one of his totems and is a protector of the community. John wears a bear totem on his medicine bag with a bear claw given to him by one of his spiritual elders.
What's inside the medicine bag is another story. A medicine bag can contain innumerable objects, as unique as the person wearing it. Many people add their own "medicine" or healing objects. Common medicine bag objects are stones, ash from a ceremony fire, herbs, feathers, or the 4 sacred medicines.
Big John has two eagle feathers given to him from Elders John Pierre and Andy and Geraldine Spruce. (to use in his healing circles work). He had the opportunity to partake in a pre-treatment aboriginal circle in 1997 at the Thunder Bay Correctional Centre. He spent the next two years learning about various native teachings and was honoured for his work. He later created his own aboriginal circle course called Our Way with the Ministry of Correctional Services and worked closely with Reverend Evelyn White Eye. It was on his last course in Thunder Bay that he received his second eagle feather.
This is one of the highest honours that can be bestowed to a native person, so he is quite fortunate to receive this honour.
Many people like their medicine bags very ornate and fancy, but in reality the bag should be downplayed. This is especially true when a medicine bag is made for protection, for instance, protection from jealousy, enemies, negativity, bad spirits, illness and the list goes on and on. You keep it handy, but you don't wave it around or threaten folks with it. It is not meant to be touched or handled by other people.
Chevron beads are special glass beads. The first specimens of this type were created by glass bead makers in Venice and Murano, Italy towards the end of the 15th century. They may also be referred to as rosetta or star beads. The white settlers to North American used these as trading beads with the native people. John tells me he wears his beads mostly for decoration and to encourage questions such as the ones I asked him. See? It works!
The agate improves memory and concentration, increases stamina and encourages honesty. Its psychic associations are to help prevent one from absorbing other’s negativity. In Native teachings, purple represents a healing colour, similar to pink adopted for breast cancer activities.
The medicine wheel button symbolizes a cross within a circle. It is the basis for all teaching wheels. The Power of the Four Directions is implied whenever a wheel or circle is drawn. Since traditional Native American cultures view life as a continuous cycle, life mirrors the cycling of the seasons, the daily rising of the sun, and the phases of the moon. They also hold the view that all things are interrelated. The Medicine Wheel incorporates the Powers of the Four Directions and the interrelatedness of all things.The teachings of the Medicine Wheel were originally explained orally with the circle being drawn in the earth and a gradual overlaying of symbols, as meanings were explained by an elder. The elder would begin with an explanation of the Four Directions and the center of the wheel which represents the Sacred Mystery. Four is a powerful number. The Four Aspects of Human Personality-the physical, mental,emotional, and spiritual; The four Seasons, four Stages of Life-childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and elders; The Races-red, white, black and yellow; The Four Elements-water, air, fire, and earth.
It is an incredibly beautiful concept. I have pinned the button to my Sweetgrass braid. Sweetgrass grows in one of our fields -- the scent of it is magical on an evening breeze.
Thanks Big John, for sharing so much with me!
