National ordination strengthens spiritual intentions

Julie Severn

2/24/2005 12:00:00 AM

Saginaw Chippewa Tribal member Donulus A. Otto recently became an ordained minister of the Native American Church of the Morning Star.

Otto, who is also Weekaun of the Anishnabe Ogitchedaw Veteran & Warriors Society has been learning, practicing and sharing traditional teachings for several decades. Through his many travels, the Pipe Carrier has collected stories and adopted beliefs that have spiritually impacted him.

"I like to know my brothers' and sisters' way of doing things for the people," Otto said. "All the ways we give thanks to the Creator-I practice these and teach them. No church or clan-no one is the one that will make it to the spiritual world. So I practice not just my Tribe's beliefs, but beliefs from all different nations. Some ways just effect me on a deeper level."

Otto received his first pipe while in his late 30s.

"I had six kids and was working at the time and that came first to me. It was important that my children graduate from high school and get a good foundation," he said. "I knew that by getting a good first step in life they'd have more success in the world today. The basics have to start at home and family comes first."

In asking the Creator for help to achieve the solidified foundation for his family, Otto attained that goal.

"When I received my second pipe it really hit me," he explained. "I started talking to different Elders and visiting reservations; nothing was handed down to me, I just started picking it up from various teachers around spiritual fires."

During last year's Gathering of the Eagle Staffs blessing in Petoskey, Otto received his fifth pipe.

"Five eagle feathers were given out and I felt kind-of down because I didn't receive one," Otto said. "Then they called me up and presented me with a pipe for the community of all the staffs being posted. It was an honor. This was one of the most important pipes I'd received."

The Native American Church of the Morning Star is dedicated to the creed of spiritual reconciliation among all Indigenous peoples.

Otto was ordained under a branch of the nationally recognized church and is empowered to carry these teachings to any person or group, conduct all services of the church in the name of the One Creator, and to practice and teach indigenous healing traditions in support of the church.

"This was something that I never shot for and was really shocked when they contacted me-especially in my old age," the smiling 69-year-old Otto said. "I told them that I didn't go to school to be a reverend or minister, but they had heard about all the ceremonies I'd been doing across the U.S. and got in touch with me. I think this is great and I'm glad I did it."

This summer will be the first nationwide gathering of the church in the state. Meetings generally take place every other month, according to Otto.

"We meet wherever we can-in basements, pole barns, people's homes, but mainly we like to be outdoors," he said. "On Mother Earth everything around us is from the Creator. Mother Earth is our provider for our life.

"Everything is changing today and it's important to give thanks for the amazing gifts the Creator has blessed us with."