|
June 26, 2009
Mother Earth on their side
Respect for First Nations beliefs in the building of new museum.
REBECA KUROPATWA
Aboriginal elders are making sure that Mother Earth is on their side with the construction of the Canadian Human Rights Museum (CHRM) in Winnipeg.
CHRM spokesperson Angela Cassie said museum officials approached the Thunderbird council in the spring of 2008, to consult about how to best respect Mother Earth during the museum's construction. "Our lead archeological and construction team met with Métis and Treaty One elders at Thunderbird House. There was a good initial discussion, and then we met with them again just before we started the museum construction," said Cassie.
Larry Monkman, an aboriginal elder with the Council of Elders at Thunderbird House, said he and the council were pleased that CHRM officials asked how they could respectfully construct the building on land that was once an historic aboriginal meeting place. The council responded that it was necessary for medicine to be put into the holes before the setting-in of the piles or caissons of the museum's foundation.
"We're happy to be able to work with First Nations and aboriginal communities to respect Mother Earth," explained Cassie. "We'll be continuing to consult with them at each stage of the construction. It's been a very positive relationship so far and we're looking forward to this being a longtime positive relationship."
Monkman said, "Our people live by a spiritual law of sharing. The Europeans came here with a different way of thinking – that of the queen [of England] – using force and pushing to get what they want."
He explained that although there are many different tribes and teachings of aboriginal peoples, the basis is the same for all. "As far as our people are concerned, all we need in life is good health, hope and happiness."
The idea behind putting medicine in the holes for the museum construction and conducting a ceremony is so that everything that goes into the construction and comes after it does so "in a kind, gentle and honest way," explained Monkman.
According to Cassie, "It's not a matter of just throwing the sacks of medicine down into the holes. The person being lowered by a harness into the holes needs to know something about the procedure, has to be clean and sober for at least four days and there is some ceremony and blessing involved."
Everytime construction crews drill into the ground to allow the pouring of dozens of concrete caissons or the pounding of hundreds of piles to stabilize the museum's foundation, a medicine-filled bag is place in the hole. About 200 caissons will be poured on the site and more than 400 piles. Hole depth varies from 15 to 25 metres before reaching bedrock. The medicine bags show Mother Earth respect and ask her for forgiveness for digging holes into her. Each week, Monkman prepares and blesses the bags and brings 21 of them to the site. There are five kinds of medicine that go into the sacks – sweetgrass, sage, tobacco, cedar and weekay (wild ginger).
Sage (representing an eastern direction) is the first and most important medicine needed in ceremonies, and is considered women's medicine. Sweetgrass (for the south) is the second medicine and symbolizes the hair of Mother Earth. Cedar (west) is next: it's a positive, powerful medicine – where the negative is not permitted unless invited – representing the moment when free will comes into play. Tobacco (north) is the fourth medicine and is critical as a sign of giving before taking – or, in this case, digging the holes. The fifth medicine is for the centre: the weekay is important for healing.
Keith Bousquet, who works as a beller (the person inspecting the holes for safety) with the company that is building the deep foundation, is Métis and, as it happens, worked with Monkman in construction several years ago. As Bousquet was lowered down into the holes to place the bags, Monkman stayed at ground level and recited a blessing, asking Mother Earth for forgiveness.
"As a human rights museum – especially in Canada – the aboriginal story is very important to us," said Cassie, "and, as Treaty One land, has been important to aboriginals for hundreds of years. This is high on our priority list, too."
According to Cassie, the museum will include a number of very significant historical and contemporary issues impacting aboriginal people. "We'll be going to all the provinces and territories in Canada to gather stories and get a sense of what issues are important to Canadians," she said. "Canada's role, internationally, will also be featured."
The CHRM is the first museum in Canada to be established in more than 40 years, and is a national Crown corporation. "It belongs to all Canadians, and we want to be as inclusive as possible," said Cassie.
For more information, visit humanrightsmuseum.ca.
Rebeca Kuropatwa is a Winnipeg-based freelance writer.
^TOP
|
