The Seven Grandfather Teachings

I wanted to share the Seven Grandfather Teachings with you because I believe they are teachings we need right now.

The Seven Grandfather Teachings are a set of guiding principles from Anishinaabe traditions and are among their most widely shared teachings. They have been passed down from generation to generation and continue to be carried forward by Elders, Knowledge Keepers, families and communities.

As you read them, I invite you to do so with respect. We must remember that many Indigenous teachings, ceremonies and languages were forbidden and suppressed through colonial policies. It is through the resilience, courage and determination of Elders and Knowledge Keepers that so many of these teachings continue to be shared today.

I am Métis, with Cree and European ancestry, and I have been fortunate to learn these teachings. While the Seven Grandfather Teachings have their roots in Anishinaabe traditions, teachings such as these have also been shared across Indigenous communities, including Cree communities, and have found meaning among people from many different backgrounds. I share them from my own perspective as someone who has been taught these principles and continues to learn from them.

For me, what makes these teachings so meaningful is their reminder that we are not separate from one another or from the natural world. They speak to living in a good way, with ourselves, with one another and with all of creation.

At a time when many people are questioning traditional belief systems and searching for a greater sense of meaning, connection and belonging, perhaps these teachings will offer you something to reflect upon. I believe we all need a connection to something greater than ourselves, and these teachings remind us that our relationship with the Earth and with all living things is part of that connection.

We need to remember our relationship with Mother Earth and all of creation. The health of the planet is connected to our collective health. We are not separate from creation; we are part of it. We are born from the Earth, nourished by the Earth and eventually return to the Earth.

The Medicine Wheel reminds us of the importance of balance in our lives. The Seven Grandfather Teachings offer another way of considering how we might live with greater balance, respect, purpose and connection.

In Cree teachings, which are part of my own background, there is a strong understanding that all things are related. Our languages, knowledge and ways of understanding the world developed through our relationships with the natural world around us. Creation was not something separate from us; it was the source of life, knowledge, language and relationship.

THE SEVEN GRANDFATHER TEACHINGS

1. Truth — Debwewin
   Truth asks us to speak only to the extent that we have lived or experienced.
   The Turtle represents Truth. The Turtle was here during the creation of the Earth and carries the teachings of life on his back.

2. Humility — Dabasendiziwin
   Humility reminds us to think of ourselves in relation to all that sustains us.
   The Wolf represents Humility. The Wolf lives for the pack, and being separated from the pack carries great consequence. This teaching reminds us that we are part of something larger than ourselves.

3. Respect — Manaaji’idiwin
   Respect asks us to go gently with one another and with all of creation.
   The Buffalo represents Respect. The Buffalo provided every part of itself for human use, and the devastating destruction of the buffalo population during colonization is a painful reminder of what can happen when we lose our respect for the beings who sustain us. I highly recommend the documentary American Buffalo if you would like to learn more about this history.

4. Love — Zaagi’idiwin
   Love asks us to offer unconditional love to one another and to all of creation.
   The Eagle represents Love because of its strength and its ability to carry the teachings. Love is not limited to those who are closest to us; it extends to our relationships with all living things.

5. Honesty — Gwayakwaadiziwin
   Honesty asks us to live with integrity and virtue.
   The Raven represents Honesty because it knows who it is and how to walk its own path. This teaching invites us to be truthful not only with others, but also with ourselves.

6. Bravery — Zoongide’ewin
   Bravery asks us to live with a strong and courageous heart.
   The Bear represents Bravery. The mother Bear embodies the courage and strength to face what is difficult in order to protect her young. Bravery does not mean that we are without fear; it means having the strength to move forward with a good heart.

7. Wisdom — Nibwaakaawin
   Wisdom asks us to live with vision and understanding.
   The Beaver represents Wisdom. The Beaver uses its natural gifts to alter its environment and create a home and safety for its family. This teaching reminds us to recognize our own gifts and use them thoughtfully.

How can we use these teachings in our daily lives?

It does not have to be complicated. If you are struggling with a decision, feeling lost or unsure which direction to take, you can pause and reflect on these seven teachings. You might ask yourself: What would Truth ask of me? Where could I practice Humility? Am I moving with Respect? Can I lead with Love? Am I being Honest with myself? Where do I need Bravery? What can Wisdom teach me?

You can also reflect on the animals connected to each teaching and consider what their ways of being might teach you. The more we return to these teachings, the more naturally they can become part of how we move through the world.

Perhaps this is what we need right now: to remember that we are connected, to remember that we belong to something greater than ourselves, and to remember what it means to live in a good way with all of creation.

These teachings have survived because people carried them forward. I share them with gratitude to the Elder who taught me and with respect for the Anishinaabe communities, Elders and Knowledge Keepers who continue to carry these teachings.

All my relations.