Bear Island Education Authority - Temagami First Nation- Research of Traditional Territories for Publication

The focus on the project is to have students research our traditional lands, portages, rock paintings (petroglyphs) and traditional creation stories. Apply those names and stories to connect mentally, spiritually, emotionally and physically to mother earth. We are at the stage where tradition and culture is being lost at a rapid rate. We must preserve knowledge to pass along to the seven generations to come.
Lake Temagami is located in northern ontario. If you visit the area you will be sure to come back as it is absolutley a beautiful place. Elders and Medicine People who visit our community say it is a very spiritual place. The water is very powerful and great medicine for us as Anishnaabe People. The land and trees must be understood and preserved as humans it is our key to survival. There is a strong need to preserve stories of our ancestors before us and how they lived. There are several rock paintings on the lake that not many people know the history behind. Are these paintings prophecies? How were we created and how did this place come to be? Do Nanabush stories exist here? We only have 2-3 fluent language speakers alive to date. The stories might come through in the language. If we can have support the young to record the stories and the old to tell, the history will be restored in book or video format. It won't die as we will have it restored for the future.
Researching is also a valuable skill to learn. How to interview people and record the findings.
The idea or project would make a difference to future generations or visitors to the area. We could possibly get the material we find and have it published. To preserve a story, culture, language is to preserve First Nations people. There is a great deal to learn about the past that can guide our future.
This would be a community shared event. Along with other people who have done work in this area. Chief and Council have already been out on the lake to work with a fellow who created a map of the area. Everyone would have a chance to share a story of days long ago. The school children would lead the interviewing process.
We would make a change for future generations. They would know how people lived long ago. How did First Nations skin a rabbit? What does the rock paintings mean? Where did our ancestors live on the lake and why? How did people travel? Storytelling has always been a way of passing along our traditions. Learning our history will make us an overall prouder community.