Living and Dying mno bemaadiziiwin: Wearing Our Teachings in Contemporary Times

Abstract

Wearing, or operationalizing, cultural teachings during this time of a global pandemic is crucial to Indigenous spiritual health and overall well-being. The Big Sickness has impacted collective spiritual practices and gatherings. It has prevented us from being present with family and community members in times of illness, disrupting our caretaking responsibilities, and our assistance with and witnessing of death. Yet, public health restrictions have also provided opportunity for biskaabiiyang: physical isolation has catalyzed a pause in our collective and personal day-to-day lives, and has provided opportunity for us to turn inward, reflect, and to return to ourselves and ways of knowing. This article shares foundational teachings of the Anishinaabe People; teachings that guide us in the living and dying of mno bemaadiziiwin, the Good Life. These teachings situate the life and death journey of Anishinaabe persons within the Anishinaabe cosmos, and articulate our practices of relationality, responsibilities, and ways of knowing that are essential to this journey. Biskaabiiyang, returning to ourselves, with agency and wearing our teachings can support individual resilience and survival.