About eighty people attended a presentation of local Indigenous history, hosted by Bomgiizhik (Isaac Murdoch) of Serpent River First Nation. The event was held in Elliot Lake at the Moose Family Centre on Oakland Boulevard, Thursday evening.
Using traditional story telling and historical information, Murdoch (Bomgiizhik) wove pre-modern Anishinabek understanding and modern historical events into a presentation from the distant past through the period of European contact, to the present.
In addition to the oral presentation, Bomgiizhik displayed historical artifacts related to the modern-era information.
Attendees were welcomed to view the artifacts close-up and ask questions during a break during the 2-1/2 hour evening.
Following a brief introduction, Bomgiizhik began the evening, speaking in Ojibwe for about a minute and a half then adding, “I hope that you realize that this was going to be Ojibwe. That’s why it’s free! You won’t understand a word I’m saying!”
Laughter followed as the audience became more relaxed.
Murdoch frequently wove humour into the evening balancing other, very painful information that included personal family history. During those times, the audience was very still; some were moved to tears.
“The only reason why I’m here is to make sure that community comes together; that we understand the history, so that we can move forward in a really good and positive way for the future,” he said.
Bomgiizhik explained that his name means, “The man who paints the rocks ... the pictographs, like the rock painter with the red paint.”
“I received that name when I was a sickly baby. From a medicine man. His name was Waawaasgone Giizhik. And he was from a place called Dooganing on Manitoulin Island.”
Murdoch also explained, his heritage is both Ojibwe and Scottish. His mother was “very proud to be Scottish and Anishinaabe. So that's my lineage.”
And he described his education in traditional knowledge. “I went to school until I was about 9 or 10, and that was it.”
“I learned about this very fascinating and incredible underworld that all the old Anishinabek believed in - that there was this great power that lived in the ground. And it's going to be relevant to our story. It's going to be so relevant to the story!”
The Anishinabek stories he shared of Mooshgodne’agaming (Elliot Lake) and area, contained themes found in many cultures’ ancient stories.
Feuding brothers – the origin story of Thunder Mountain
A story of two spirits - brothers, “always at odds with each other,” told of a jealousy and greed that emerged over a fish in the possession of one of them.
The brother with the fish triumphed in a contest of miraculous spiritual powers. The contest ended when a small black stone one brother had created from soil, was hurled to the ground, initiating a lengthy period of thunder, lightning and expanding ground.
“That's how that mountain range grew. It goes all the way from just north of here almost to North Bay. That's the origin story of how that came to be,” Bomgiizhik said.
And in the story, as the vanquished brother leaves, the remaining one said, “I would have shared my fish with you any day. I don't know why you didn't ask to eat with me.”
Murdoch explained that Thunder Mountain is considered sacred, “a very holy, sacred place that our people go to pray. And in Ojibwe, we have a way of life, I guess - as opposed to a religion – you know, in that way.”
Respect for boundaries. Seeking extraordinary power
A story of “this great power that lives in the ground,” centers at a place called “Nzaagmaagaming, which is Ten Mile Lake.”
Murdoch told of the extensive tunnel system his beliefs describe, extending for many kilometres to places with English names such as Rooster Rock, Elliot Lake, Depot Lake and further south. A place “where these great beings live; mighty serpents.”
The story related how the tunnel system was believed to contain “eggs under the ground and it was foreseen that people from across the ocean were going to come here and that they’re going to try to dig up those eggs and take that power for themselves.”
He explained this was a reason why Indigenous culture only allowed digging deep enough to plant potatoes.
Bomgiizhik also told other pre-modern wisdom stories.
Modern history
Murdoch didn’t gloss over the historical relationships between Indigenous nations.
“We're going to be talking about some of the wars that took place around here, between the Ojibwe and the Haudenosaunee, primarily the Mohawk people.”
He described terrible events. “I’m not trying to give you the impression that they were the bad ones. I’m pretty sure that we were pretty bad too and we did our fair share of things too.”
An important story of battle between Indigenous nations concluded with a supernatural event and the Anishinabek being saved at what is named in English, Rooster Rock, on Quirke Lake.
Murdoch described the early relationship with Europeans - the French. “They were so happy and joyous. They had fiddles and their wine, and merrymaking. And they were adored by the Anishinabek. We traded and we played the fiddle.”
His description of the subsequent relationship with the British was not as glowing.
He also described the Anishinabek’s role and view of wars and agreements during the 1700’s and 1800’s. The description was detailed, spanning about 45 minutes, the audience following with interest.
“And of course, on December 25th, 1814, the British and the Americans decided to make a treaty in Belgium … we were not invited to that treaty.”
Questions, answers, and conclusion
“I’m proud of you because you came here to listen to me. Twenty years ago, these things weren’t talked about. We weren’t allowed to talk about this. It’s just recently that this has opened up,” Murdoch said just before beginning the question and answer period.
At the beginning of the evening, he had encouraged the attendees to “ask the hard questions.”
The questions asked were respectful. One attendee said, "I've been involved in education for over 50 years and I've never heard that story," and he encouraged Murdoch to write a book recording the stories and history.
Bomgiizhik closed the evening with a song. “And as I sing this song, I want you to know that I’m really happy that you came here tonight – that you were open enough to hear what I had to say. And that I’m really proud we were able to do this tonight.”
Following the song, he thanked "so many beautiful elders and community people here. It makes my heart full."
"Miigwetch. Wiiwe."
Murdoch has presented in Elliot Lake three times before and plans to present again.