Have you always wondered about the Indigenous Peoples of Canada? Their traditions, culture, and history? No worry, because I will tell you about some of our traditions! My name is Kylee Waboose, and I’m from Long Lake #58 First Nation in Northern Ontario. It’s approximately eight hours northwest of North Bay.
In this article, I will share two areas that are important to our culture: fasting ceremonies and vision quests.
In my Ojibwe culture, fasting ceremonies and vision quests are well respected, and we applaud the people who complete them. It takes a strong-willed person to complete this.
Fernow Lake Camp
Not only are they doing it for themselves, but they’re also doing it for their people, community, and the world itself. My grandmother has told me that it’s important to think about yourself and others who are struggling with their issues. We pray for those people. My grandmother, who’s very knowledgeable and well-respected in our community, brought fastings and vision quests to our community. Even though it’s important culturally, my First Nation had forgotten those teachings, and we didn’t have any guidance to complete them properly. Our Ojibwe teachings were lost due to the traumatic experiences our grandparents went through while in residential school.
My grandmother saw the difficult situations that our youth are currently going through and she knew something needed to be done. With the help of the medicine man from Manitoba, she and her sisters made it happen.
He taught her what to do and how to execute the cultural camp. A cultural camp usually lasts for four days, during which we learn cultural teachings and how to live a good life. Living a good life consists of being sober, participating in ceremonies, and living by the seven grandfather teachings: respect, courage, wisdom, love, truth, humility, and honesty.
The seven grandfathers’ teachings are very important in my Ojibwe culture because they teach us to be kind and good people to ourselves and to others. My grandmother started this for the youth who were struggling with problems we faced in our small community. The problems we face to this day are mental health issues, alcohol and drug addictions, abandonment, and a loss of identity.
The fastings at the cultural camp last for four days. The fastings that we conduct back home are for the youth, both girls and boys (ages 11-18). They go separately; one week is for the girls, and the next week is for the boys. The vision quests are for women and men. They also go separately; the women go first, and the men’s week happens during the last week of July. The youth go first, and the adults go last.
Fasting Arbor
There is no water or food. Although they’re fasting and cannot eat, there is an exception for the youth. We asked the medicine man for advice, and he said they could only have one meal and a glass of water per day. Fruits and vegetables were given at certain times, so the youth weren’t eating all day. Once done drinking their water, they’re given medicine (Labrador tea, cedar tea, or strawberry medicine). The strawberry medicine consists of mashed strawberries and water. While the women make it, they’re thinking about pure intentions. No ill feelings while making it, and they’re also praying over it, which is why we call it medicine.
The girls learn about the important teachings of becoming a woman, including how to sew and how to care for others and their future children that they would have one day.
The boys learn about the importance of being firekeepers and how to provide for their families. They learn how to fish, hunt, harvest meat, and live off the land. Our youth had no knowledge of these teachings before they came to the fasting ceremonies; their parents hadn’t taught them so.
During the cultural camp, many speakers come to us and share their knowledge. We sing songs and hold ceremonies every morning to pray for the people in our community, around the world, and ourselves. Once the youth reach a certain age, they want to go back and attend, but they’re unable to since there is an age limit. When the fastings first started, the main focus was on the young youth. We have seen what they were going through, and we wanted to give them something new to try out and also teach them about our Ojibwe culture and the teachings that we know.
While participating in these events, I have felt at home and at peace. When you’re outside and you look up, all you can see is tall trees. Most of them consist of pine, cedar, poplar, and birch. You can hear the squirrels and chipmunks in the trees, the birds, and loons on the lake. Most of us receive a vision during the last days of the vision quest, and it’s only up to us to figure out what it means. I personally didn’t receive a vision, but I remember a frog coming up to me while I was alone, and I felt as if it was my late grandmother on my mom’s side (she hated frogs, which is ironic). I had a difficult time with her passing, but when I saw the frog, I knew everything was going to be okay, and I had a feeling that she was with me spiritually.
I’m nineteen years old, and I’ve attended these fastings since I was twelve. I learned about the ceremonies, teachings, and natural medicines. I gained a sense of who I am as an Indigenous woman of Canada.
In the Ojibwe culture, the youth and the elders are the most respected. Elders have a lot of knowledge, and they teach us about our way of life.
The youth are the next generation who will take care of our land and pass on those said teachings to the children after them. This is why my grandmother brought the fasting ceremonies and the vision quests to our First Nation. If she hadn’t, our cultural way of life would’ve been forgotten forever. She is very knowledgeable and kind to others. She listens, and she advocates for our First Nation. I have always looked up to her; I’m very blessed to have her as a role model and also as a grandmother.
Kylee Waboose is currently 19, and from Long Lake #58 First Nation, which is located in Northern Ontario. She was born in Thunder Bay, ON, and was raised in her community. She is proud of her roots and where she comes from. She is currently enrolled in a two-year Indigenous addictions program. After this, she plans to go back to her community to help her people who are struggling with substance abuse.
All photos courtesy and copyright Kylee Waboose