SYMBOLS IN NATIVE SPIRITUALITY
The Metis Flag
It has been in use since 1814. The infinity symbol represents the faith that the Metis culture shall live on forever.
It has been in use since 1814. The infinity symbol represents the faith that the Metis culture shall live on forever.
EAGLE FEATHER
The eagle feather represents duality in Native Spirituality (see page 27 in text)
The eagle is considered the protector of humans and is constantly reporting good deed performed by man to the Creator
The eagle feather represents duality in Native Spirituality (see page 27 in text)
The eagle is considered the protector of humans and is constantly reporting good deed performed by man to the Creator
TURTLE
The turtle represents the oldest of the Native clans.
Many Native creation stories have the world (North America) being created
on the back of a turtle.
The turtle represents the oldest of the Native clans.
Many Native creation stories have the world (North America) being created
on the back of a turtle.
DREAM CATCHER
A spider was quietly spinning his web in his own space. It was beside the sleeping place of Nokomis, the grandmother. Each day Nokomis watched the spider at work, quietly spinning away.
One day, as she was watching him, her grandson came in. 'Nokomis-ilya!' he shouted, glancing at the spider. He stomped over to the spider, picked up a shoe and went to hit it.
No-Keegwa, the old lady whispered, 'Don''t hurt him.'
Nokomis, why do you protect the spider? asked the little boy.
The old lady smiled, but did not answer.
When the boy left, the spider went to the old woman and thanked her for saving his life. He said to her, 'For many days you have watched me spin and weave my web. You have admired my work. In return for saving my life, I will give you a gift.' He smiled his special spider smile and moved away, spinning as he went. Soon the moon glistened on a magical silvery web moving gently in the window. 'See how I spin?' he said. 'See and learn, for each web will snare bad dreams. Only good dreams will go through the small hole. This is my gift to you. Use it so that only good dreams will be remembered. The bad dreams will be come hopelessly caught, entangled in the web.
A spider was quietly spinning his web in his own space. It was beside the sleeping place of Nokomis, the grandmother. Each day Nokomis watched the spider at work, quietly spinning away.
One day, as she was watching him, her grandson came in. 'Nokomis-ilya!' he shouted, glancing at the spider. He stomped over to the spider, picked up a shoe and went to hit it.
No-Keegwa, the old lady whispered, 'Don''t hurt him.'
Nokomis, why do you protect the spider? asked the little boy.
The old lady smiled, but did not answer.
When the boy left, the spider went to the old woman and thanked her for saving his life. He said to her, 'For many days you have watched me spin and weave my web. You have admired my work. In return for saving my life, I will give you a gift.' He smiled his special spider smile and moved away, spinning as he went. Soon the moon glistened on a magical silvery web moving gently in the window. 'See how I spin?' he said. 'See and learn, for each web will snare bad dreams. Only good dreams will go through the small hole. This is my gift to you. Use it so that only good dreams will be remembered. The bad dreams will be come hopelessly caught, entangled in the web.