Sacred site to be spiritually cleansed

Julie Severn

11/5/2003 12:00:00 AM

Matured fortitude, serenity and insight have guided Anishnabe people for centuries, their strength fed by the wisdom of a most treasured asset-the Grandmother.

Elder women remain a source of understanding, influence and advisability in recognition of their timeless courage and resilience.

In respect of Tribal ancestors and the lessons they have left behind, several Anishnabe Grandmothers will gather for a spiritual cleansing of the Sanilac Petroglyphs on Sept. 27.

"We are reminded of this special gift from our Anishnabe ancestors as we are told in our teachings that they left these rock carvings for us to see," explained Charmaine Benz, Ziibiwing Cultural Society editor/publications specialist. "It is a significant historical site we're trying to keep sacred by caring for it as our ancestors did."

Charmaine added the sacred site is remembered through oral tradition and is acknowledged by pictographs and mounds in the area signifying its importance.

"We see this place, as well as our birchbark scrolls, as our first written history," she said. "We hope to be able to share and learn more about it with our community members and others."

The annual Grandmothers' Cleansing brings together women from various locations across the United States and Canada.

"Not only is it a nice way to keep in touch and remind everyone the rock is still there, it's a way to keep our culture alive," said Saginaw Chippewa Tribal member Phyllis Kequom. "The way things are going with our [federal] government-they want us to be just another citizen, but we want to keep our identity and sovereignty. This is part of our history and we need to be reminded of our ancestors who were here before us to keep the culture going."

Potawatomi Tribal Elder Sidney Martin explained the Petroglyphs will be purified with cedar brooms and water from the Cass River, as cedar water is often used in ceremonial spiritual cleansing.

Ironically, the Department of Natural Resources built a roof to "protect" the artifact from the elements in 1978.

Mythical water panthers, deer and a Native American archer are among the sandstone carvings etched during the Late Woodland period 300 to 1,000 years ago.

"In Anishnabe teachings and beliefs, water is the most precious and sacred gift, and is in fact the lifeblood of Mother Earth," Sidney said. "Like Mother Earth, women give and sustain life and it is our responsibility to take care of the water."

Because water and women are so much a part of the same union, it's necessary to realize water is a large component of one's being, according to Sidney.

"The Petroglyphs in Ontario depict how female and water are united with a pictograph of woman giving birth as water seeps out of the rock through a large fissure," she explained.

Centuries ago, Anishnabe women believed it was their role to care for water, which was considered woman's element and was used in healing ceremonies because of it's soft, soothing qualities. Man's element, fire, was used for warmth, cooking and natural fires to produce vegetation, she added.

"Just as each gender has their role, so do various age groups," stated Sidney. "Grandmothers hold the ceremonial uses of water because they're beyond their life-giving cycle. Before menstruation, women would have to plan ceremonies around their period, or moon time, because their natural powers are too strong and could draw from the ceremony.

"As Grandmother Moon controls all the water on Mother Earth, including the water in us, she probably also controls our menstrual cycles. The tides, waves in the ocean, snow and rain are all controlled by her and are a vital part of the traditional Native culture."

Sidney said Grandmothers have always been caretakers of their people because of this special status.

"Elder women have the wisdom of life experiences to know what to do," she explained. "Traditionally, men have tended to war, politics and business. Caring for the Tribal community was such a significant role, women have always served on council. Native women have more gumption than people realize. We are just a bunch of Grandmothers, but we are also the movers, shakers and keepers who have kept the traditional language and culture alive."

Like all circles and cycles, the Grandmothers' Cleansing exists because of the cooperative partnership merging various Tribal people in one unification. Sidney said man's role in the ceremony is also extremely significant as he tends the sacred fire and gathers water for the purification process.

"It's very symbolic to take care of this precious place and teachings. During the special time we will feast on food prepared with only good thoughts and feelings. This is very important because we feed our ancestors in the smoke carried from the sacred fire in which the feast is prepared. People can become physically ill if negative feelings are put into the food. It takes a good heart and mind or a strong woman who realizes and converts negative energy through self-control. These are all part of our traditions and teachings-not only to better our Tribe, our people and Mother Earth, but all mankind."

Recent state budget cuts have forced the Michigan Department of History, Arts, and Libraries to close the Sanilac Petroglyphs Historic State Park to the public, as they were unable to staff the site with attendants. Without attendants present, the DNR has had problems in the past with visitors climbing the fence causing permanent damage and vandalism to the site.

In an effort to keep the culture alive and preserve the sandstone messages, ZCS will display a life-size replication of the rock in the new Ziibiwing Center, which is expected to open this fall.

All community members are welcome to attend the Grandmothers' Cleansing on Sept. 27. A carpool to the site will be leaving the ZCS office-Ervin farm house at 6870 E. Broadway behind the Public Safety Building-at 9 a.m.

"Just as it's important for us to remember the past, we need to do these things to let the future generations know we were here," Phyllis added. "The past must not forgotten in order to keep the culture from dying out. Some younger people have so much going on they don't realize how hard it was for our ancestors back then. Everyone Anishnabe should see the Petroglyphs. It just grabs you. It's a part of who we are."