That feeling of "connection" constitutes the difference between western science and the indigenous perspective of the natural world. For the first time in my life, I felt a connection to the star world through my son's naming ceremony. In the weeks following that ceremony, I became obsessed in seeking out the star knowledge of my ancestors, the Anishinaabe people (also referred to as Chippewa or Ojibway). Tobasanokwut said, "If the naming ceremonies are performed as they should be, the teachings, history and culture of our people can be found in the names of Anishinaabe people." The sacred knowledge of the natural world is inherent in the language. This ancient knowledge came from watching the stars move to different regions in the night sky throughout the year and observing the relationship between seasonal changes and stellar movement. That mystical movement around a source of energy is reflected in the name of Gizhebaa Giizhig. "Gizhebaa" also refers to people dancing in a circular fashion around the drum arbor at powwows. It refers to the circular movement of the sun, moon, stars and seasons. The name that he gave to my son was "Gizhebaa Giizhig," which means "Revolving Sky." The name, Gizhebaa Giizhig, refers to the circular movement of the sky throughout the year. I had given him "Asemaa" or tobacco several weeks prior, respectfully requesting the ceremony. It was a cold day in early March near Bemidji, Minnesota, with blizzard-like conditions and freezing temperatures. A highly respected Anishinaabe Elder, Tobasanokwut Kinew, came down from Winnipeg, Canada to do the ceremony. I was never so touched by indigenous knowledge as I was during the Naming Ceremony of my 4-month-old son.
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