This Op-Ed was published in the Winnipeg Free Press on December 4, 2023.

We are all mental, emotional, physical and spiritual beings. Once our humanness is gone, or another way of putting it, the death of our physical body, we leave the human world and begin our journey to Spirit World or to the land of our ancestors.

Teachings tell us that Spirit World is right here and if we want to connect with someone, it’s up to each of us to find out how to do that. That is our challenge and it’s different for everyone as we do not all communicate, pray or see things in the same way. It’s our humanness that gets in the way of making those connections, so for each of us the ease or difficulty of doing that is what is often referred to as the thickness of the veil that separates us.

We are also told that the veil is not a static thing but rather it fluctuates and becomes thinner at certain times of the year, as it is now. As we reach out to our ancestors, this is a time of deep inner reflection for us.

Some days ago, we held a sacred fire at Ode’imin, the Women’s Health Clinic birthing centre in Winnipeg. A Sacred Fire is an Indigenous ceremony, and among other things helps to facilitate Spiritual communication and connections. We called our daylong fire ceremony Dancing Northern Lights.

Traditional teachings tell us that the Northern Lights is where our ancestors live and when they dance or twinkle at you, it is your ancestors making contact with you specifically — the person next to you does not necessarily see the same thing as you. Those are your Ancestors that have come close and are letting you know that maybe they have a message for you. What is it you wonder — what inner thoughts, ideas are they inviting you to share with them?

In our ceremony we invited our staff, friends and neighbours to come and celebrate the life they gave birth to at our clinic, through our clinic or with our clinic, we invited people to come and share their experiences of grief and loss, and we invited those who had bundles born to Spirit. We gave everyone an opportunity to pray and put tobacco in the fire — a time to share with their ancestors — a time to sit in the wonderment of a sacred fire, a pipe ceremony, a sharing circle, the sharing of teachings and a feast.

Traditional ceremonies include a place for people who are hurting to be received, seen and held by their community. This way of healing together is an old tradition and way of life. It is also at the heart of community health. It just makes sense that Indigenous elders and knowledge keepers come together to work with community organizations who directly serve people most in need.

To this new work at Women’s Health Clinic, we bring decades of combined Indigenous social activism, knowledge and insights across local, national, and international organizations and events. Together, we are Ka Tapwe Yoot (kata pway ya-oot) — Those Who Tell the Truth.

As the four members of the Kookum’s Circle at Women’s Health Clinic, we each bring our stories, experiences and teachings to our work with community, people who use our services, staff and volunteers. We are building relationships, growing understanding and deepening trust. Combining our gifts, we bring traditional ways into the inner workings of the clinic, changing how we service clients, community and each other.

Throughout the past year, we’ve begun this work in earnest. We’ve completed one full cycle of Full Moon Ceremonies at Oodena Celebration Circle at The Forks with community partners — and have begun another. We’ve organized trips to share Teachings and to pick sacred Medicines: cedar, sage and sweetgrass to use in our Ceremonies. Through events at the clinic and in community, we bring other community elders/knowledge keepers and helpers to share their teachings and skills with staff and clients.

In a post-pandemic atmosphere, we invite community to join us. They — their healing, health, and wellness — are why we are all here at this time and in this place. Every day seems to bring new stories of pain, anger, grief and loss. Everywhere, people are hurting — those who need support and those who work to provide it.

We are here to bring not just hope, but direct action for healing and capacity building. Now more than ever, traditional ways are necessary so all people can live in harmony with each other and in balance with the land on which we live.

So remember, to witness the crackle and dance of the Northern Lights as an invitation. Pause. Be still. Bring your whole attention to this moment of natural wonder and delight. Listen carefully — your ancestors are speaking.

Margaret Lavallee, Louise McKay, Albert McLeod and Jeannie White Bird are members of the Kookum’s Cirle at Women’s Health Clinic.