"Look into the water of a clear lake"
For six centuries or more, the Great Lakes basin, whose abundant waters, continually ebbing and flowing with the seasons, feed into the Turtle Island continent and the Atlantic Ocean, has been the home of our Native ancestors, who for generations have lived close to the water’s edge to survive.
Since the days when these Algonquian speaking immigrants arrived in this vast region of bountiful freshwater lakes and islands and rivers and forests, its waters have nourished many generations of the People, physically as well as spiritually. Along with water, all kinds of fish species, turtle spirits, snakes, muskrats, water birds, mermen and mermaids, mishibizhiwag and mishiginebigoog (great lynx and snake spirits), as well as a myriad of other water creatures, play a central role in the traditional narrations and creation stories of the Anishinaabe Peoples.
Through a new series titled "REFLECTIONS OF THE GREAT LAKES," which includes pen and ink drawings, canvases, and original jewelry pieces, along with occasional philosophical reflections, I strive to capture and honor the spirit, beauty, and majesty of GICHIGAMIIN, the Great Seas of the Anishinaabeg Peoples. These immense natural resources were once respected, revered, and held sacred, but today they are largely abused, misused, and unappreciated by various commercial fishery and timber companies, international chemical corporations, and, of course, the tourist industry.Part 3 in the series.
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Inaabin zaaga’igan gawaakamig.
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_______________________________________________________________________________Despite their remarkable spirit and majesty, the gichigamiin have always been seen as just a part of the MUCH GREATER WEB OF LIFE. The ancestors understood that celestial bodies, mountains, lakes, rivers, fires, thunders, lightnings, rains, winds, and countless other living things that make up the physical world were, as if part of a Great Council, overseen by a powerful ogimaa (chief) surpassing all living things. This chief was known as GIMISHOOMISINAAN GIIZIS, our grandfather the sun.
In addition to being a “giver of life” who, on his daily journey from East to West, imparts his powers of light, heat, guidance, and growth to all things, GRANDFATHER GIIZIS holds a symbolic significance beyond the physical realm. For the ancestors, the sun was a metaphor for something less tangible, an impersonal, genderless manifestation of mere metaphysical dimensions. This manidoo (spirit or mystery) was seen as the driving force behind the entire Universe. Though unseen by many, it could be recognized in all aspects of nature by those who watched and listened carefully and used their sense of smell.
The Great Mystery could only be understood through its creations and the order and harmony it established throughout the Universe. Thus, for the Anishinaabeg, the sun, considered the father of all life, embodies none other than GICHI-MANDOO, the spirit of spirits, the mystery of mysteries, the singular force that created and permeates all life.
The hand-hammered sterling silver cuff bracelet displayed below is named dibewagendamowin (“Reflection”); it features a basic depiction of a sun.
I created this bracelet—which, like all my jewelry, serves as an educational tool and is not for sale—to celebrate THE SPIRIT OF LIFE.
For me, the overlay technique, when skillfully applied, results in minimalist designs of striking simplicity, adding genuine depth to my pieces. I aim for the contrast and dramatic movement of black-outlined forms and flowing lines to capture the essence of what I wish to express: to present a metaphorical, or rather hidden, meaning in a way that connects universally with the imagery.
You might wonder, what message are you trying to convey with the sun figure on the bracelet? Additionally, is there any connection between the sun and the lake?
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So, by depicting the reflection of sun rays on a northern lake as well as the four projections of the spirit symbol inside the sun, I aimed to capture the universal presence of GICHI-MANIDOO.
You could safely say then that the sun imagery in this overlay bracelet carries metaphorical significance with multiple layers.
His energizing rays extend not only to the chilly waters of the winter lake and all life above and below its surface, but also to all our Relations - beyond just our human family! - and to the entire Universe. On a more personal note, I guess in a way, the eccentric sun/great spirit design of the bracelet and, in particular, the sacred symbol that I placed inside the sun design, define the outlook that I share with Simone; the bracelet design also stimulates a deeper insight in how our art relates to our life values. So, to me, the bracelet not only speaks of ILLUMINATION, but—in a deeper sense—of introspection. It is a symbol of SELF REFLECTION.
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In everyday life, however, this mysterious quality, which the gete-ayaa'ag (the Anishinaabe ancestors) referred to as OJICHAAG, consistently manifests in a person’s disposition and temperament, their expressions and gestures, and through the tone of their voice. Since they are considered windows to the soul, ojichaag is especially evident through a person’s eyes—after all, isn't it our older and wiser brothers, the naayogaadejig (four-legged animals), who look directly into a man’s eyes to discern his true intentions?
Similarly, the gete-ayaa'ag believed that the ojichaag—the essence and consciousness of a person—reveals itself through what they called jiiban (shadow): an often invisible substance that shapes and guides a person’s perception and intuition. It is said that, under certain conditions, a person's jiiban might mystically manifest as ojiibaaman (aura)!
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I hold these beliefs to be true and am not fond of the Western tradition that prompts us to view our relationships with the natural world in a purely technical and rationalistic manner—aren't we taught in school to make clear categorical distinctions between living organisms and so-called dead matter, between the animate and the inanimate, between the natural and the supernatural, between the human and the nonhuman, and between linear time and circular time? This is why I'm increasingly realizing that the essential key to understanding the essence and expressiveness of our work as artists, and perhaps even our observational skills in daily life, lies in the ancient worldview of the Anishinaabeg gete-ayaa'ag—rather than in the classical paradigms of Western thought.
Only at that point can we truly accept others for who they are.
To better understand these lessons, we are encouraged to seek our reflection in a clear lake.
In doing this, we don't truly see our own reflection, but that of our ancestors. The reflection we observe may convey the following message to us:
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"Through All Your Relations
So, ultimately, it seems to be all about reflection! This concept applies to our paintings and jewelry creations as well. While they may initially appear to align with contemporary design standards, they are truly expressions of an ancient visual language. This implies that our canvases and pieces frequently represent REFLECTIONS or SHADOWS of the ESSENCE of certain “things” or the LESSONS they embody, rather than the “things” themselves.
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In other words, when you look at this particular silver bracelet, the primitive sun figure contained in black form lines that you see reflected in the silver lake is really a reflection of something else that goes beyond the obvious; this something is a “macro force” encompassing the scope and depth of life and Creation itself. I like to think the primitive flow and energy of the boldly designed sunrays in the design are in confluence with our own energy, like the meeting of two rivers, one running wild with an invigorating current, the other flowing along gently along curving snowy banks whose evergreen trees trail their boughs peacefully in its calm waters.
In this sense, the vivid imagery of the bracelet serves as a conventional medicine wheel or a universal mirror, illuminating our individual thoughts, passions, and motives.
If we're fortunate, it could also illuminate certain aspects of our lives or personalities that were previously unclear…
Click here to read #4 in the series Reflections of the Great Lakes.
* Source: Seven Sacred Teachings (Niizhwaaswi Gagiikwewin) By Dr. Joseph Martin and David Bouchard.
** This text merely reflects my personal interpretation of the original Oral Teachings of the Seven Grandfathers.
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Acrylic "We-nen-wi-wik-ka-ni-an" by Chris Ezhinwed Angeconeb
Acrylic on canvas "Ishkode Biinjina" (The Fire Within # 2) by Simone McLeod (2013)
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Very nice. Your bracelet and words are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
You're welcome, Jamie! Thank you.
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