Note: This Part One on the AICAF eagle staff. Part Two will provide a detailed interpretation of the eagle staff. Even in sleep you will perceive In sleep you will hear What you dream will be The Great Mystery is generous with you. ~ Basil Johnston on Dream Vision Presentation of the eagle staff At the 6th Annual Powwow for Hope, I gifted the American Indian Cancer Foundation (AICAF) with the Bimaadiziwin, Zaagi’idiwin, Apennimowin Miigwanii-Gikiwe’on (Life, Love, Hope Eagle Staff). The miigwanii-gikiwe’on (eagle staff) was the fulfillment of a vison that came to me in a bawaajigewin (dream vision). Subsequent dreams revealed the nature, form, and colors for the miigwanii-gikiwe’on. As our elders teach us, when you have a vision, the vision must be fulfilled. The miigwanii-gikiwe’on took about 2 ½ months to complete. Niwiijiiwaagan (my wife, partner, companion) Nan spent 23 hours working on the panel the night and early morning before the powwow. This was in addition to the previous four-five days she had worked on it. Her gashkigwaasowikwe (seamstress) artistry was the focal point of the gikiwe’on. I drew the initial outlines for the panel based on Ojibwe bandolier bags floral motifs from the late 1800s-early 1900s, but it was Nan’s agogwaajigan (appliqué) skills that brought the gikiwe’on to life. Nan finished at around 8:30 a.m. and that gave me about two hours to complete my part of the panel. First I had to string the migizi-miigwanag (eagle feathers) onto the panel. Then I had to string the panel onto the gikiwe’on. I wasn’t too sure how it would all work out. As it turned out, there were a few problems, so I had to tweak it to get panel strung. We were out the door at 10:30 for a 2 ½ hour drive to get to a powwow that started at 1:00. Using my powwow driving skills, we arrived at 12:40. When we arrived, I went in to check with Kris Rhodes, Director of AICAF, and niiyawen`enh (namesake) Herb Sam. I still needed to get into my regalia. Herb said I was fine and to take my time. Herb would be doing a manidookewin (ceremony) for the gikiwe’on. I handed Herb a bag with asemaa (natural tobacco) mixed with shavings of baakwaanaatig (sumac). When I returned, Herb had a small area set aside for the manidookewin. He had a plate of food to offer to the manidoog (spirits). The gikiwe’on was first smudged down with mashkodewashk (sage). Then Herb opened with a prayer in Anishinaabemowin and smoked his opwaagan (pipe). He introduced the gikiwe’on to the manidoog and with his blessings brought the gikiwe’on to life. The gikiwe’on was brought out in front of the MC stand. I introduced the gikiwe’on to the community as the Bimaadiziwin, Zaagi’idiwin, Apennimowin Miigwanii-Gikiwe’on (Life, Love, Hope Eagle Staff). I provided an explanation as to the meaning of the gikiwe’on and that it was dedicated to those we have lost, those who have survived, and the caregivers who help us heal. After I finished with the introduction, Nan and I received gifts from AICAF. I was gifted with a beautiful zaka`onaak (walking staff). The zaka’onaak was made by Wau-Bin-No, who excels in making zaka’onaakoon. It features a tight braid of wiingashk (sweetgrass) with seven zhaaboshke`iganan (jingle cones). Each Zhaaboshke is strung with two beads of various colors representing different amogowinan (cancers). The zaka’onaak is beautifully sculpted with a ribbon that turns into a feather, the AICAF logo. Nan received the wool blanket “Renewal,” designed by Sarah Agaton Howes. “Renewal” “tells the story of physical and spiritual renewal. It honors the land through representations of the wild plum flower, the water through our beloved wild rice, and healing through the dogwood flower, which is used to create traditional tobacco.” We also received gift bags that included AICAF hoodies and T-shirts. The T-shirts featured my artwork that depicted the gikiwe’on. It was decided to dance our gifts during the Honoring Caregivers Dance that would be held later in the day. Bezhigokammiginang (Bret Benally Thompson) was chosen to bring in the gikiwe’on for Grand Entry. Bret is an Army veteran and a hospitalist and it was an honor to have him bring the gikiwe’on in for the first time into the dance circle. Watching the miigwanii-gikiwe’on brought into the dance circle marked a definitive moment for me among the many that I’ve had on my amogo babaamadiziwin (cancer journey). It was not only the fulfillment of my bawaajigewin (dream vision), but it also my gift for those who walk the same journey that I do. A journey of Life, Love, and Hope. Bimaadiziwin, Zaagi’idiwin, Apennimowin Miigwanii-Gikiwe’on (Life, Love, Hope Eagle Staff), with Dave Larsen, Powwow MC. Photo / Ivy Vainio Herb Sam and Brett Thompson. Photo / Joey Reynolds Presentation of Eagle Staff to AICAF. Photo / Ivy Vainio Gifted with the walking staff by Bret Thompson. Photo / Ivy Vainio Gifted with the Renewal blanket by Kris Rhodes, Director of AICAF. Photo / Ivy Vainio Bret Thompson bringing in the AICAF eagle staff for the first time into the dance circle. Photo / Ivy Vainio Fulfillment of a vision. Photo / Ivy Vainio The Honoring Caregivers Dance In our language, caregivers are called gayaatiniwedjig. They are the ones who help the sick. Although many survivors have gayaatiniwedjig, many are without. I can’t imagine walking this journey without loved ones by my side. For the Honoring Caregivers Dance, my family was honored. Nan and I stepped into the dance circle accompanied by three of our children – Miziway-Migizi, Meeg-wun Gheeshig Ikwe, and Makina Aung Ikwe. Our other son, Miskwa-Mukwa and grandson, Trevionte, weren’t able attend to the powwow but they were there in spirit. I carried the zaka`onaak I was gifted with. Nan’s “Renewal” blanket was wrapped around us. It reminded me of the day were married traditionally in 1983 and shared a wedding blanket. Kris Rhodes introduced me and Nan. She spoke about my battle with cancer. She ended with these words: “Robert is incredibly grateful for the support his caregiver, partner and wife, Nan. According to Robert, Nan comes to his oncologist appointments, helps him maintain healthy meals and diet, and helps support him with his hearing issues when he visits his doctor. She ensures everything is understood. Robert says he would not be where he is today without her.” With Ejay Smith (Head Male Dancer) and Carolyn Gouge (Head Female Dancer) leading us, and our children behind us, and the Ringing Shield Drum providing the honor song, we danced in renewal of our family spirit and for the gayaatiniwedjig who help those on their amogo babaamadiziwin (cancer journey). Honoring Caregivers Dance - Nan and Robert. Photo / Ivy Vainio Our children: Miziway-Migizi, Makina Anung Ikwe, Meegwun Gheeshig Ikwe. Photo / Ivy Vainio Honoring Caregivers Dance led by Ejay Smith (Red Lake Band of Ojibwe) and Carolyn Gouge (Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe). Photo / Ivy Vainio Renewal. Photo / Ivy Vainio Jingle Dress Healing Dance It’s been said that in life, we move in a circle. The Jingle Dress Healing Dance brought me back to a circle that I began in 2013. In that year, I attended my first Powwow for Hope. When I entered into the healing circle, I was awaiting the results of my biopsy. Two days later, the tumor was diagnosed as malignant and three weeks later, my ascending colon was surgically removed. Four years later, I once again entered the healing circle. I was on adjuvant chemotherapy as the result of surgery in November 2016 to remove a tumor on the left lob of my liver. The ziibaaska`iganagooday (jingle dress) is called a medicine dress. In our origin story of the ziibaaska`iganagooday, a man with a sick daughter had a bawaajigewin (dream vision). In his dream, the Creator provided him with instructions on how the dress was to be made and the way it was to be danced. When the dresses were made by the man’s wife, four ikwewag danced around the sick girl and she was brought back to good health. Although the ziibaaska`iganagooday dance has become a category in powwows, in Anishinaabewaki (Ojibwe Country) the dance is often performed at powwows as a healing dance for individuals or groups of people who suffer sickness. For me, the return to the healing dance circle was a powerful experience. It’s difficult to explain the emotions that one feels as the dancers dance around you. You can feel the energy as their cones jingle and send forth their medicine that reaches deep within Ojichaag (your soul spirit) and ode`imaa (your heart) beats with the sound of the drum. You are drawn into the bawaajigewin that began long ago with the ancestor dance of our ikwewag. In the second dance, spectators were asked to join the healing dance. Afterward, the participants streamed by our chairs, but not to offer handshakes; rather we received hugs from each and every one of them. They were hugs of joy, hugs of healing, and the hugs of a community coming together on a golden afternoon. It was a dance, and a day, to remember. Photos weren't allowed during the dance. Photo by Ron Hamm taken before the dance. Photo / Ron Hamm © All Rights Reserved, Robert DesJarlait, 2017
Photos copyrighted by the photographers
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Robert Desjarlait
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