Help is required.Īs I continue reflecting on the significance of this phrase “keepers of the fire”, I wonder what other fires need “keepers” during their overnight shifts, to keep their flames alive. Someone must always be there to ensure the fire will burn - especially through the night. More importantly, I’ve realized that keeping a fire alive is a tricky business. Learning about indigenous history and the Potawatomi tribe leads me to wonder about the fires that have been extinguished, as well as take inventory of the fires in my own life that need tending to. The Potawatomi are one of the few that managed to successfully preserve much of their native culture, rituals, and language. However, in modern times, t he “Keepers of the Fire” have a new fire to protect - the preservation of their heritage. The Sacred Fire was extinguished many generations ago. Yet while there has been so much tragedy, there is also hope. The culture and their history dies with every story that remains unspoken, that does not pass through generational wisdom. Most tragic of all may be that so much of this history is slowly being forgotten. So much of indigenious history is layered with tragedy and trauma. The great migration displaced generations of tradition, history, language, culture. Their story is one of heartbreak and tears.ĭue to the voracious appetite of European / American settlers of land, like countless other Indian tribes, the Potawatomi were ruthlessly pushed from their lands and forced to migrate west. As such, their role was to tend to the Sacred Fire, literally and figuratively, to manage the ceremonial fire and by tending to the alliance to ensure peace. (3) Potawatomi: Youngest Brother, “ Keepers of the Fire”Īs the “youngest brother”, the Potawatomi had the last entry into the Council. That is Keeper of the Sacred Fire that was carried by them as they traveled. The Ottawa (Odawa), the middle brother, was to become the Keepers of the Trade, and the Potawatomi (Bodewadmi) the youngest brother was to become Keeper of the Fire. (2) Odawa: Middle Brother, “ Keepers of Trade” The Chippewa (Ojibwa) were to become the oldest brother and the Keepers of the Faith. (1) Ojibwe: Older Brother, “ Keepers of Faith” Historically, they were one of three tribes that formed the Council of Three Fires meant to uphold peace. In fact, the word “Potawatomi” means “keepers of the fire.” This is what the Potawatomi tribe call themselves. I learned a beautiful phrase today: keepers of the fire.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |