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BAY MILLS - "In the society of the Midewiwin the object is to teach the higher doctrines of spiritual existence, its nature and mode of existence, and the influence it exercises among men. It is an association of men who profess the highest knowledge known to the tribes." - Indian Agent Henry Schoolcraft on the Midewiwin.
The Midewiwin, or Grand Medicine Lodge/Dance, is a super-secretive religious ceremony performed twice a year by the Midewiwin Society, or Grand Medicine Society of the Ojibwe, Odawa, Potawatomi, Sioux and Winnebago. The Midewiwin are a chosen group of people who are responsible for the spiritual and physical health of their people. According to Mille Lacs Ojibwe Elder Skip Churchill, although he could not go into detail as to what goes on at the Midewiwin, he said it is important that people know it is not a religion.
"Midewiwin is not a religion," Churchill said to the crowd of people at the Bay Mills Cultural Lodge on Saturday, March 18 after a potluck dinner. "Midewiwin is life, given to us by the Creator."
Churchill, who resides in the Azhaamoog "Where the roads cross" Community of Minnesota, came to Bay Mills at the behest of Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians Traditional Medicine Program staffers Ted Holappa and Peggy Hemenway to speak to the community about some of the different ceremonies the people in his community have, including the Midewiwin. While this was not the first time Churchill has visited another Native community to talk, he said he prefers to stay close to his home.
"I'm not stingy with my knowledge, but I prefer to stay close to my home," Churchill said. "I feel people get a full understanding of what we do if they come to where we practice. My strength comes from my being close to my home."
Churchill said that he became interested in his traditional ceremonies and the language after moving back to his home, having been gone for over 40 years. Although his parents were fluent speakers of his traditional language, Churchill said they did not want him to learn it as a child because they feared public repercussion. During this time, the government made it against the law for his people to practice their ceremonies and religion, he said. In fact, Churchill said that up until a little over two decades ago, his people went a span of 35 years without having the Midewiwin ceremony.
Churchill has since learned the language, having learned it from spending countless hours watching and listening to his father speak, and has reintroduced himself to the ceremonies forbidden to him as a child. While he had to live the majority of his life away from his home and unable to speak his language or participate in his people's sacred ceremonies, Churchill said he is elated to finally have the opportunity. He said all Anishnaabe, regardless of their age, need to take the time to learn their culture, especially their language.
"Our culture is very important to us," he said. "Look where the Anishnaabe people are at today. Our communities are the same way. What do we have left? How many speakers do we have left? How many are gifted with the language? It is important to know our language and understand, not only what we are being taught, but who we are as Anishnaabe people."
