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8 Indigenous L.J. 1 (2010)

handle is hein.journals/ilj8 and id is 1 raw text is: COMMUNITY VOICES Traditional Native Culture and Spirituality: A Way of Life That Governs Us BESSIE MAINVILLE Bessie Mainville is an Ojibwe Traditional Elder who resides on Couchiching First Nation. Bessie was born in Manitou Rapids. When her mother died at an early age, Bessie was left with her aunts to raise and take care of her. She experienced pure love from her aunts while being raised in two households. At the age of 18 she was united in marriage with Elmer Mainville and then moved to the community of Couchiching. Being new to the community allowed her to make many new friends, but it was the older ladies of the community that became the closest. Later in life when her children were all gone to school she wouldjoin the Catholic Women 's League and visit with these ladies on a daily basis. She felt very blessed not only to have a big family with lots of children, grand children and great grand children, but to have a mother and father in law who spoke the Ojibwe language fluently. Feasting and gatherings in both communities is very important to Bes- sie, and she participates in both spring and fall. Pipe Ceremony When the Elders and Leaders were negotiating with white people in regards to land claims and the exploration of resources, the Elders and Leaders were told that whatever resources or land agreements came out of their talks they would share with them. The agreements made between both parties were always sealed with a pipe ceremony, the Elders and Leaders truly believed that thru the ceremony performed with the pipe that the agreement came from the heart and was a true promise or agreement. This is still done in today's society. The elements used thru the pipe ceremony are fire, tobacco, stone and wood representing the four directions, as well as the four races of man. Tobacco rep- resents kindness, the bowl of the pipe is faith, the stem represents the honesty, INDIGENOUS LAW JOURNAL/Volume 8 Issue 1/2010

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