Nearly 200 people traveled toward Ponemah Point on Wednesday May 14th just before noon.
Just a bit before the road curves to the point, cars, trucks and a busload of thirty elders from Minneapolis, took a left and drove a quarter mile or more back into the woods toward the lake. The journey into the forest is on a beautiful curving road with budding trees hugging the one lane path. Soon and suddenly, the sun and a clearing appear. Off to the right front in the distance, is a traditional structure known as a Round House. It is simple in it’s beauty and elegance.
Beyond the structure is a tree line, and beyond that is the largest fresh water lake wholly contained within one state, a Sacred body of water known by the Ojibwe People of Red Lake as Mis qua ga mi wi saga eh ganing.
Cars and trucks line the dirt road beginning at the woods and into the clearing, their occupants walking toward the log structure. Off to the right and before the Round House, are tables and chairs in and out of open-sided shelters. This must be the place for the obligatory feast that will follow the dedication.
Off to the left is perhaps a half rick of seasoned oak, fuel for the Sacred Fire, started four days earlier and tended constantly 24 hours per day by the “Firekeepers” in preparation for today’s dedication.
The People mill around, greeting old friends and relatives before entering the Round House. As more and more people arrive, more and more chairs are brought from the feast area into the Round House.
Upon entering, a program for the event is provided by Ponemah Representative Glenda Martin. Directly opposite at 180 degrees, light is seen from another door in the otherwise windowless structure. The only other illumination comes from a cupola high in the center of the Round House. As eyes adjust, one sees rows of chairs and their occupants in a circle at the wall’s edges.
In the center are three drums; the Dave Manuel Drum, the Ponemah Community Drum, and the Traditional Drum of Spiritual Elder and Chief Greeting Spears. People coming in are instructed to walk around the circle clock-wise before seating. At the end of the walking circle, participants receive tobacco and an eagle feather for the ceremony, the feathers later to be gathered for use in future ceremony.
Shortly after 11 AM, Spiritual Elder Thomas J. Stillday begins a pipe ceremony along with several Drum Songs. Stillday then introduces Red Lake Chairman Floyd Jourdain Jr., who gives some background on the funding for the structure and the uses and purpose of the Round House. More songs are sung, including a song by six or seven women using hand drums.
Short speeches of information and thanks are given in Ojibwe and English by the Chairman, Chief Spears and Tommy J. Stillday Tribal Council Representatives from Ponemah then say a few words, Glenda Martin, Gary Nelson, and Tribal Treasurer Darrell G. Seki, Sr. Others are also given opportunity to say a few words.
Chairman Jourdain says that much of the Round House was funded by gravel sales for the road work being done on the reservation. A large donation was also received by White Earth member Winona LaDuke. Chairman Jourdain speaks of how important this building is to teach our youth about tradition and culture. Eventually, with more facilities added, youth will be able to spend days camping and learning at the site.
Treasurer Seki, as is his manner, spoke briefly and mostly in Ojibwe.
All spoke of the need for such a teaching lodge, where any who seek can learn more of the traditional ways. Representative Nelson commented at how this is important for our young ones.
Chief Spears gave words of thanks. He said that many teachings will take place in this building. That this is a place where elders will pool their knowledge and teach the traditional ways to all.
Representative Martin said that at the onset for discussions regarding the need for a Round House, meetings began with 15 elders, which then slowly grew to 30. They met every other week to share their knowledge of such things, of how the Round House should be built and the purposes for which it would be used.
Representative Nelson spoke words of thanks to all who worked in the planning of the dedication. Those who brought the tables, the cooks, the organizers, the firekeepers, the drums, and all who attended and participated in this important event.
Spiritual Elder Stillday summed it up well and simply. “A good thing happens here”, he said.
3 comments:
Very interesting. That ceiling looks like a drum to me. Be interesting to see a 2010 article on this Roundhouse too!
I loved reading this. Very well written! I am lucky to have visited the Round House. What a neat building.
A place where people can go to learn from their elders. Very revolutionary. We have no such place, and have so much to learn. We only have the Metrodome, and not much learning goes on there that I'm aware of.
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