LOVE – EAGLE
To feel true love is to know the Creator. It is expected that one’s first love is to be the Great Spirit. He is considered the father of all children, and the giver of human life. Love given to the Great Spirit is expressed through love of oneself; it is understood that if one cannot love oneself, it is impossible to love anyone else. The Eagle was chosen by the Great Spirit to represent this Teaching. The Eagle can reach the highest of all creatures and bring pure vision to the seeker. Love depends upon a world that acknowledges the importance of spirituality.
RESPECT – BUFFALO
The Buffalo, through giving its life and sharing every part of its being, showed the deep respect it had for the people. No animal was more important to the existence of Indigenous families. Its gift provided for daily living. Indigenous people believed themselves to be true caretakers of the great herds, and developed a sustainable relationship with the Buffalo resulting in a true expression of respect.
COURAGE – BEAR
The Bear provides many lessons in the way it lives, but courage is the most important teaching it offers. Though gentle by nature, the ferociousness of a mother Bear when one of her cubs is approached is the true definition of courage. To have the mental and moral strength to overcome fears that prevent us from living our true spirit is a great challenge. Living of the heart and living of the spirit is difficult, but the Bear shows us how to face any danger with courage.
HONESTY – SABE
Long ago, there was a giant called Kitch-Sabe. Kitch-Sabe walked among the people to remind them to be honest to the Teaching of the creator and honest to each other. The highest honour that could be bestowed upon an individual was the saying “There walks an honest man. He can be trusted.” To be truly honest was to keep the promises one made to the Creator, to others and to oneself. The Elders would say, “Never try to be someone else; live true to your spirit, be honest to yourself and accept who you are the way the Creator made you.”
WISDOM – BEAVER
The Creator gave each community member gifts to use. The Beaver uses his sharp teeth for cutting trees and branches to build his dams and lodges. If he did not use his teeth, the teeth would continue to grow until they became useless, ultimately making it impossible for him to sustain himself. The same can be said for human beings. One’s spirit will grow weak if it is not fulfilling its use. When used properly however, these gifts contribute to the development of a peaceful and healthy community.
HUMILITY – WOLF
To truly know humility is to recognize and acknowledge that there is a higher power, and it is known as the Creator. To capture the spirit of humility is to accept that all beings are equal. The expression of this humility is manifested through the consideration of others before ourselves. In this way, the Wolf became the teacher of this lesson. He bows his head in the presence of others out of deference, and once hunted, will not take the food until it can be shared with the pack.
TRUTH – TURTLE
To know truth is to know and understand all of the original Teachings as given by the Creator and to be faithful to them. In the beginning, when the Creator made man and gave him the Seven Sacred Teachings, the Grandmother Turtle was present to ensure that the laws would never be lost or forgotten. On the back of a Turtle are the 13 moons, each representing the truth of one cycle of the Earth’s rotations around the sun. The 28 markings on her back represent the cycle of the moon and of a woman’s body.