Oshki-bibooni-giizis (New Winter Moon) (February 5, 2025)
Boozhoo, aaniin!
Welcome to the third part of the blog series called The Way of the Heartbeat. In this series, I link my storytelling jewelry, sometimes alongside the creations of like-minded artists, with the ancient teachings handed down by my ancestors since their time in the Dawn Land in the East—and likely for as long as our People have roamed our cherished Aki, the Earthmother.
Today's teaching centers around a unique choker necklace, created several years ago at my jeweler's workbench. The necklace is named Bimaadiziwin Miikanaang/Dibishkoo Minikaan Abinoojiinh, which translates from Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe) to "On the Path of Life; Just as a Seed, So Is a Child." This one-of-a-kind piece is made from hand-hammered sheets and wires of sterling silver. It features a free-form larimar stone set in 14K gold, and on the right side of the necklace, there is a stylized eagle feather, also crafted from 14K yellow gold.
This contemporary necklace, part of the Path of Life collection, reflects my jewelry-making vision through its graceful simplicity and the precise artistry of silver, gold, and stone. Hand-hammered, it serves as a lovely tribute to my most cherished person —to be more precise, to a powerful and sacred quality that I see in her.
This manidoowiwin (spirit quality) she holds, best described as a lust for life, or joy of life, I envision and metaphorize as a minikaan (seed) with immense generative powers, touching, blessing, and inspiring all living things and beings around her.
From a broader perspective, or more specifically, within the context of traditional Anishinaabe views and philosophy, one might also say that the necklace honors and celebrates bimaadiziwin: life itself.
Gichi-ayaag, the Anishinaabe Elders, impart to the youth that life resembles miinikaan: a plant's seed. A seed remains concealed within the earth until it appears in spring. As it bursts forth, it develops into a plant nourished by the earth, warmed by the sun, and watered by the rain. It is tended to until it is prepared to produce fruit. Thus, a seed is considered a manidoo, a mystery.
Just as a seed, so is a child. Abinoojiiyag, too, require nourishment, clothing, shelter, and guidance into adulthood. Similar to how a plant seed needs to be sown in fertile soil, an abinoojiinh must be guided along a path they are to follow.
The circular design of the necklace represents the journey of bimaadiziwin. The bluish-green hue of the irregularly cut larimar stone, set in 14K gold, symbolizes the enigma of a seed beginning its life within the earth's embrace. I refer to this as Earth Healing. The larimar's color also signifies water and air. Water embodies human emotions, while air represents spirit. The three gracefully arched silver wires that connect to the wide silver plate of the collar necklace, with the stone acting as a unifying element between the two halves, symbolize the life-giving forces of Ogashnaan (the earthmother), Giizis (the sunfather), and gimiwan (the rain), sources of plenty, warmth, and growth. The stylized gold migizi miigwan (eagle feather) attached to one side of the necklace, which can be moved to any desired position along the silver wires, signifies the spiritual journey a person must undertake from childhood. Only those who succeed in avoiding life's many perilous traps and the numerous lures of comfort and abundance, and who remain true to their path as revealed in vision, will be granted mino-bimaadiziwin, the blessing of a long life…
A ritual chant of Thanksgiving
Manidoowi miinikaanense.
Niigiwin manidoowin.
Miinikaanense w'da-gikinaawajinowaan abinoojiin.
Miinikaanense manidoowi, w'da-mashki-akiiwi.
The seed is a mystery.
Birth is a mystery.
The seed symbolizes a child.
The seed is mystical; it will heal.
- Ancient ritual chant of thanksgiving, of the Waabanoowiwin, the Anishinaabe society of the Dawn.*
Ahaaw sa, mii sa ekoozid. Onjida gibizindaw noongom. Well, that is the end of the story. Thank you for listening to me today. Giga-waabamin wayiiba. Migwechewendan akina gegoo ahaaw! I hope to see you again soon. Be thankful for everything!
*Source: Basil Johnston, Ojibway Ceremonies, p.124 - University of Nebraska Press, Bison Book Edition 1990.