THUNDER BAY – Elder Dave Courchene, Anishnabe Spiritual Leader & the Grandmothers are making a call to all young women, men and to those who yearn a connection to Spirit – who want to find meaning and vision that will define the purpose of their life. Ancient rites of passage will be offered at the Turtle Lodge & in the sacred site of Manitou Api to assist young people entering into the stage of adulthood. This opportunity is also available to adults who have not yet had this experience. These rites of passage ~ Makoose Ka Win & the Vision Quest ~ are a necessary commitment to change the way we live, relate to others and care for our home, Mother Earth.
Elder Courchene was the guest of Shy-Anne Hovorka, Joey Stylez, and Feenix, at The Love of Life in Thunder Bay on Saturday, February 12th. He spoke to the audience over over 500 mainly young people about the importance of First Nations youth to get in touch with the past ways.
Makoose Ka Win are rites of passage that are conducted by the grandmothers, who will provide teachings of how to honour and carry oneself as a Woman. This will be a time for all Women to recognize and understand the sacredness of Woman. It is time for Women to claim and embrace their rightful positions of honour and responsibility in walking with and leading all people — men, women & children, back to our sacred way of life.
The Vision Quest enables men and adolescent boys to engage in an ancient ceremony that assists in the transition from one life stage to the next, with purpose and meaning.
As a young boy seeks his vision on a Vision Quest he is initiated by Mother Earth. All men must be initiated by Woman to understand life’s sacredness. We are making a call for young boys and men to participate in a Vision Quest to be initiated by the Earth this coming spring. They will be encouraged and watched over daily by the Elders.
If you are interested in this experience for yourself or a family member, please register by visiting www.theturtlelodge.org. There is also a Facebook page.
“Our Elders, both women and men, have kept the knowledge and ceremonies of these rites of passage and now want to share these with all people. These ceremonies are our way of life and have always been here to help us to remain on the path that our Great Creator set out for us. And that path is to be the honourable and sacred beings that the Creator meant each of us to be,” shares Dave Courchene.