Chad Solomon, Artist and Storyteller, Treaty 13 (and Rabbit) on "What is a promise?"

Summary

In this video, Rabbit, a character from 'The Adventures of Rabbit and Bear Paws,' warmly greets viewers in Anishinaabemowin with 'Aaniin,' meaning 'Hello.' He explains the importance of sharing, respect, and keeping promises, which are central to treaties. Rabbit highlights how stories and language help pass knowledge across generations, fostering connection and understanding. He emphasizes that everyone is part of the seventh generation, sharing land, resources, and responsibilities. Rabbit encourages viewers to speak from the heart and keep their promises, ending with the Anishinaabe phrase 'Baamaapii,' meaning 'See you later.'

Takeaways

• 📚 The speaker introduces themselves as Rabbit, a character from the 'Adventures of Rabbit and Bear Paws' book series.
• 🌐 'Aaniin' is a greeting in the Anishinaabemowin language, symbolizing the sharing of one's essence.
• 🎨 Rabbit is also an illustrator and believes in the power of art as a means of communication and idea sharing.
• 🤝 Treaties are described as promises, emphasizing the importance of keeping one's word.
• ❤️ The heart is identified as the source of truth and sincerity when making promises.
• 📖 Storytelling is highlighted as a method for passing knowledge across generations, up to the seventh generation.
• 🏡 Respect is a core value, including self-respect, respect for neighbors, community, and the land.
• 🌱 The Anishinaabe territory is mentioned as a place where sharing resources like water and food is a tradition.
• 🗜️ Despite territorial constraints, the tradition of sharing and keeping promises through treaties continues.
• 🏘️ The concept of 'treaty people' is introduced, indicating a collective desire for safety, clean water, and a good community life.
• 👋 The script concludes with a cultural alternative to 'goodbye', using 'Baa-maa-pii' to express a hopeful reunion.

Q & A

What does 'Aaniin' mean in Anishinaabemowin?

In Anishinaabemowin, 'Aaniin' means 'Hello' and signifies the essence of the speaker sharing themselves with others.

What is the name of the book series Rabbit is a part of?

Rabbit is a character in the book series called 'The Adventures of Rabbit and Bear Paws'.

What role does Rabbit play in the creation of the books?

Rabbit is one of the people who draw the books, expressing a love for drawing as a way to communicate and share ideas.

What is the significance of sharing in the context of the script?

Sharing is a key value in the script, related to the concept of treaties and the willingness to share resources and knowledge across generations.

How many generations does the script mention sharing knowledge to?

The script mentions sharing knowledge to 'the seventh generation', indicating a long-term perspective on passing down knowledge.

What is a treaty according to Rabbit?

A treaty, as explained by Rabbit, is a promise that is meant to be kept, symbolized by placing a hand over the heart and affirming to keep one's promise.

What does Rabbit encourage listeners to say to demonstrate their commitment to keeping promises?

Rabbit encourages listeners to say 'I will keep my promise' as a way to show their commitment to honoring their words.

How does Rabbit describe the process of sharing and respecting?

Rabbit describes sharing and respecting as interconnected processes that involve sharing resources like clean water, land, and food, and respecting oneself, neighbors, community, and the land.

What does Rabbit share from the Anishinaabe territory?

Rabbit shares clean waters, land, and delicious blueberries from the Anishinaabe territory, following the teachings of their elders to share what they have.

What does Rabbit mean when they say 'we are all treaty people'?

Rabbit means that everyone is part of a community that values and upholds the promises of treaties, striving for a safe place to live with clean water and a sense of security.

How does Rabbit say 'See you later' in Anishinaabemowin?

In Anishinaabemowin, to say 'See you later', one says 'Baa-maa-pii'.

Outlines

00:00

🐰 Introduction to Rabbit and the Concept of Sharing

Rabbit introduces himself as a character in the 'Adventures of Rabbit and Bear Paws' book series. He explains the Anishinaabemowin greeting 'Aaniin', which means 'Hello' and symbolizes sharing one's essence. Rabbit emphasizes the importance of sharing and promises, relating them to treaties and the concept of passing knowledge to the seventh generation. He encourages the audience to make and keep promises, suggesting a gesture to feel the heart while making a promise. Rabbit also talks about sharing resources like clean water, land, and blueberries, and the importance of respecting oneself, neighbors, and the community.

Keywords

💡Aaniin

Aaniin is a greeting in Anishinaabemowin, meaning 'Hello'. It is the essence of the speaker's identity, as they are sharing their essence with the audience. This greeting sets the cultural tone for the video, emphasizing the importance of language and tradition in communication and community.

💡Anishinaabemowin

Anishinaabemowin is the language of the Anishinaabe people, an indigenous group in North America. The script uses this term to highlight the significance of preserving and sharing indigenous languages, which are crucial for passing down cultural knowledge and values.

💡Rabbit

Rabbit is a character in the 'Adventures of Rabbit and Bear Paws' series mentioned in the script. As a character and storyteller, Rabbit represents the tradition of oral storytelling in indigenous cultures, which is a means of educating and entertaining while transmitting cultural values.

💡Treaty

A treaty, in the context of the script, refers to a formal agreement, often between indigenous peoples and governments, promising mutual respect and sharing of resources. The script emphasizes the importance of keeping promises, which is central to the concept of treaties and indigenous values.

💡Seventh Generation

The seventh generation is a principle in many indigenous cultures that considers the impact of current actions on the welfare of future descendants, seven generations ahead. This concept is used in the script to stress the long-term view of sharing and responsibility towards future generations.

💡Sharing

Sharing is a recurring theme in the script, reflecting the indigenous value of communal living and mutual support. It is exemplified through the act of storytelling, sharing of resources like land and food, and the broader concept of sharing knowledge and culture for the benefit of all.

💡Respect

Respect is highlighted as a core value, important for personal integrity, community harmony, and the sustainable use of natural resources. The script mentions respecting oneself, neighbors, community, and the land, indicating that respect is foundational to the well-being of individuals and societies.

💡Promise

A promise, as discussed in the script, is a commitment that must be upheld, symbolized by the physical gesture of placing a hand over the heart. This act signifies the sincerity and emotional depth of one's commitment, linking personal integrity to the keeping of promises.

💡Elders

Elders are mentioned as the knowledge carriers and teachers in indigenous cultures. They pass down wisdom, traditions, and values to younger generations. The script underscores the importance of learning from elders and the responsibility to uphold the teachings and promises they impart.

💡Anishinaabe Territory

The Anishinaabe Territory refers to the land traditionally inhabited by the Anishinaabe people. In the script, it represents the connection to the land and the responsibility to protect and share its resources, reflecting the indigenous concept of land stewardship.

💡Baa-maa-pii

Baa-maa-pii translates to 'See you later' in Anishinaabemowin and is used instead of saying goodbye. This phrase encapsulates the cyclical nature of time and relationships, suggesting that离别is temporary, and connections are enduring.

Highlights

Rabbit introduces the word 'Aaniin,' meaning 'Hello' in Anishinaabemowin, and explains that it means sharing the essence of oneself.

Rabbit mentions that he is one of the great characters in 'The Adventures of Rabbit and Bear Paws' series and shares his love for drawing.

Drawing is highlighted as a powerful form of communication and sharing ideas, which Rabbit emphasizes as an important aspect of storytelling.

Rabbit explains the concept of treaties as promises, focusing on the importance of keeping promises and sharing.

Rabbit encourages children to place their hand over their heart and say, 'I will keep my promise,' promoting honesty and integrity.

Rabbit stresses that stories help pass knowledge from one generation to the next, emphasizing the concept of the 'seventh generation.'

Rabbit explains that everyone is part of the seventh generation and highlights the responsibility to share and respect one another.

Rabbit provides a simple definition of a treaty as a promise and reinforces that promises should always be kept.

Through language and stories, Rabbit says people can have fun while deepening their understanding of sharing and respect.

Rabbit teaches respect for oneself, neighbors, community, and the land, connecting the concept of sharing with the natural environment.

Rabbit acknowledges that he lives on Anishinaabe territory and makes a promise to share the land and its resources, such as clean water and blueberries.

The idea of always sharing, even when space becomes smaller, is emphasized by Rabbit as an enduring part of his people's culture.

Rabbit reminds everyone that they are 'treaty people,' united in their desire for safety, clean drinking water, and strong communities.

Rabbit reflects on the teachings from elders about sharing and keeping promises as fundamental values passed down through generations.

The transcript ends with Rabbit teaching the phrase 'Baa-maa-pii,' which means 'See you later' in Anishinaabemowin, avoiding saying goodbye.

Transcripts

Rabbit: Aaniin!

The word Aaniin is "Hello" in Anishinaabemowin.

And if you break it down, it means the essence of me. I'm sharing the essence of me

with all of you, out there! My name is Rabbit and  I'm one of the great characters in a series of  

books called the adventures of Rabbit and Bear  Paws. And we like to have all kinds of fun and  

I'm one of the people who draw the books and I  love to draw. It's such a great way to communicate  

and to be able to share ideas. And of course sharing  is what we do when we have a treaty. Because  

we're willing to be able to share what we have.  And through those stories is a great way how we  

can pass knowledge from one generation to the  next, and to the next, to the next, to what we  

call the seventh generation. That's what I am, and  that's what everyone else out there is as well.

We're all the seventh generation. A  treaty? Hmmm...I know! A treaty is a promise.

And a promise is something I always keep. Put your  hand over the left side of your body like this.

And feel your heart and know that  your heart is where you speak from,  

and say, "I will keep my promise." Can you say  that? Can you say, "I will keep my promise."

If you can say that, you're doing a great job.  Because that's where everything begins. And so,

through our language and through our stories, we  get to have all kinds of fun. And through that fun,

well, we get to connect with each other and have  a deeper understanding of what it means to share  

and respect. Respect for yourself, respect for your  neighbours, your community and the land in which you  

live on. You see, I live on the Anishinaabe territory  and I always keep my promise to share what I 

have here on my territory. I  share the clean waters, I share the land,

I share the delicious blueberries both me and my  brother like to eat, too. You see, we were always  

taught by our elders to share with what we have. We had to be able to give a little space here,

give a little space there. As time went on, our  space got smaller and smaller and smaller. But  

we always shared, because we always  kept our promise of a treaty. We are

all treaty people. We all want to have a safe  place to live. We all want clean drinking water.

And we all want to feel safe and good in our  homes and in our communities. It always starts  

with me and you, together sharing. And together  we keep our promises right? Mm-hmm! So, this is how I was  

taught from my elders and my knowledge carriers  to keep my promise, so I hope that all of you  

out there can keep your promise, too. Great to  meet you and have a great day! And as we say in  

the language, we don't say goodbye, but we do say, "See you later." To say, "See you later," we simply say,

baa-maa-pii. Baamaapii!