One spiritual lesson I become aware of is the respect for life and the creatures of the earth. This was displayed through the fishing trip with John Husk (p81-83). The introduction of the ways of the animals and their spirits, the bear, beaver, wolf, wolverine was passed on. The story of Loretta Angels grandmother and how these elder women, Dora-rouge, Agnes and Bush seem to know when to share and when to keep silent. What importance silence is. How to commune with the spirits of Nature and the respect of the elements. I also found it interesting that with the lack of modern conveniences that their lives had a rhythm. The preparation for winter, the harvesting, planting and that it was correlated back to the cycle of life. Hw these women loved the land and the sanctity of life. The respect for all living creatures, saying thank you for food. And the desire and need to take a stand at the building of damns. How important it was that these women, who have great heritage, wanted to protect the land. How that all began with a dream and their need to help the land to which they are dependent. At the same time we also have Hannah, Angel's mom, and the stories of her and where Angel came from. How through the belief in that Hannah was the meeting place (p 101). That Hannah housed the pain and suffering of her people. She felt and experienced the inhumanity of the destruction of her Nation, that Angel could heal her own wounds. Most of Angel's healing took place during the trip to the Fat Eaters. The land that Dora-Rouge was from and wanted to go home to die. Again this brings about the importance of where do I come from and the identity that is more than just the self. It show's the tradition of all people, and the importance of belonging.
The canoe trip to the North showed me the importance of planning, listening to your dreams, and depending on one another to survive. How difficult it had to have been to travel with one woman who can not walk and needed to be carried.
