My Buy Nothing Christmas

By David Nickarz

My feelings around christmas are mixed. I was raised in the Anglican church and was never indoctrinated into the Christian faith. I left the church when I was 17.

In our family, chrismas was about getting together with family and buying copious quantities of gifts. I appreciated the family gathering but the gift side of things was a chore. When I became old enough to start buying gifts I began to feel the anxiety. I was worried about who to buy for. My immediate family was a given. What about cousins, or close friends? How much money did I have to spend?

I certainly didn’t have any money left over after the big day.

It took me a number of years, but I have come to not participate in the commercial aspect of Christmas. I will not buy any gifts and will not accept any. If I do get any then I will donate them to an appropriate charity.

What’s your plan for this Christmas?

Statement from an Elder

The following is a statement from an Elder from the East Side of Lake Winnipeg. The forests on the East Side of Lake Winnipeg are of global importance as they are part of the largest intact region of forest left in the world. Pressures to cut down the trees and build hydro-electric lines are threatening this beautiful forest. - Dave

Eastside Elder Statement:

As an Anishinaabe Elder and a pipe carrier the lands on the Eastside of Lake Winnipeg is sacred. It is the place where - Manidoo Abi - the Creator sits, where we get our teachings, where our ancestors dwell, where we hold our ceremonies, have our sweat lodges, a place where we pick our sacred medicines and where we still hunt, fish, gather wild rice and trap for food.

For those of us who maintain and still practice our traditional ways it is our duty, given to us by the Creator, to respect, honour and protect Mother Earth and all things that give and sustain all life. Simply put, for us this land is part of who we are as a people, as a nation and as a country.

The four scared elements; Air, Water, Earth and Fire are all being heavily impacted globally by our relentless pursuit to wastefully consume natural resources. Yet, we have forgotten where all this natural wealth comes from – Mother Earth. What we do to her we do to ourselves.

I and many others have gathered over the years to smoke our pipes, hold our shaking tent ceremonies and to discuss the fait of the Eastside of Lake Winnipeg and it must be said that Mother Earth does not belong to us, but that we have to care for and maintain the delicate balance of nature for the sake of the well being of our children and of all future generations.

It is our sacred duty as humans to preserve Mother Earth and to honour the intentions of the Creator. For if we respect the gifts given to us by the Creator, these gifts will last forever. But if we disrespect these gifts and if we destroy them then they will end and we will end.

There are many people who have forgotten these teachings and the responsibilities to honour and protect - that which is sacred - Mother Earth. Many have gotten lost on the wrong path - a path that has lead to destruction.

For those of us who are traditional elders, pipe carriers and keepers of our traditional knowledge it is our duty to speak the truth and teach people these responsibilities.

What is needed now more then ever is for humanity to walk the path of reconstruction. We must become more then caretakers of Mother Earth, we must become caregivers - it is time for healing.

Gary Raven

Morning Star - Good Thunder Voice