What is the significance of the Northern Lights for you and your tribe?

For me, from the Anishinaabe perspective, the northern lights, Waasnoode, is a sacred act that we see that represents the word “waas” which is light and then part of it, “noode”, so it’s to me it’s like representing the heart light of Mother Earth. And it’s representative of those teachings that everything is lowered from the Spirit. So that heart light from the Earth would be part of that spiritual acknowledgment that we make between those sky beings and the air, the Earth, the water, the people, the animals, the fish, the birds.

So that’s part of the significance for me as well as my own personal name in Anishinaabemowin (the Anishinaabe language) is Waasnodekwe, which means Lady of the Northern Lights. I’ve carried this name since I was probably just a little over a year old when my parents made the obligation and a responsibility to have me named and have four individuals stand up and sort of be like that godparent and oversee my life. And when it needed correction, they would be able to intercede and, you know, make those adjustments for me to say, that’s not good for you to be doing that, you know, uncle or an auntie would do similar to a godparent.

How did you get your name? 

It was a Ceremony that my parents arranged. Tobacco was always given or asaemaa, that’s the first medicine that’s always given. And as a request to – we call we don’t really use the word shaman – that’s kind of a delinquent word in our history. Those people were referred to as Maash ka Aki ki and they are inini or kwe (men or women). And that would just mean they’re the keepers of the Great Earth Medicines, the ones that had the connection, and the knowledge, and the wisdom or the age to oversee cycles and see seasons happen. And the moon and the moon cycles are as well as are all tied into this story that goes back to our original creation story.

What does it mean to be Northern Lights Woman?

Hmm. I’ve often wondered that as well. To me, it’s a connection to the sky realm. The star people. My sister’s Anishinaabe name is Anungo Kwe, Star Woman. My other sister is Waabeno Kwe, which is Daybreak woman or woman of the morning. So we all have that sky attachment to our name. 

I’m always looking at the stars and sometimes it’s hard here in Michigan when we’re so cloudy and all these beautiful celestial events are happening but you know, I tried to visualize still by memory and by what the what spirits are trying to interplay with earth and still trying to take that in and just try to, you know, think well, I don’t need to really see it, I can feel it or I can taste it or I can hear it.

I often pause just to hear the wind in the trees because I know they’re telling me an important message and one I know I’ll understand.  So that’s kind of how I look at my name. One day I’ll understand.