7 Grandfather Teachings (Ojibwe Story of SEVEN Grandfathers) 👴🏽

Summary

In this video, Mallory Graham from TribalTradeCo.com introduces the Seven Grandfather Teachings from the Anishinaabe elders. These teachings, passed down through generations, consist of seven gifts: wisdom, love, respect, bravery, honesty, humility, and truth. Each gift represents a vital aspect of life, guiding indigenous people to live in harmony and balance. The video explains the significance of these teachings to the Anishinabek Nation and invites viewers to learn more about indigenous culture and smudging practices.

Takeaways

• 📚 The seven grandfather teachings are traditional wisdom passed down from Anishinaabe elders, emphasizing spiritual and moral guidance for indigenous people.
• 🌐 These teachings are specific to the Anishinabek Nation and are part of the broader indigenous cultural heritage of North America.
• 👶 The teachings originated from seven powerful spirits who wanted to improve the lives of people on Mother Earth, symbolized as Turtle Island.
• 🎓 The first teaching is wisdom, which encourages cherishing knowledge, discerning truth, and acting wisely.
• ❤️ The second teaching is love, advocating for self-care, caring for others, and finding peace through love and balance.
• 🙏 The third teaching is respect, which involves honoring all creation, avoiding waste, and treating others as you wish to be treated.
• 🦅 The fourth teaching is bravery, urging individuals to face life with courage, defend their beliefs, and make positive choices.
• 🤔 The fifth teaching is honesty, which is about living with integrity, being truthful to oneself, and not deceiving others.
• 🙇‍♂️ The sixth teaching is humility, suggesting a selfless life, modesty about one's importance, and acknowledging the contributions of others.
• 🌟 The seventh and final teaching is truth, which is about sincerity in actions and words, and living in accordance with reality without regrets.
• 🌿 The seven grandfather teachings aim to guide individuals towards spiritual, mental, physical, and emotional well-being.

Q & A

What are the seven grandfather teachings?

The seven grandfather teachings are a set of spiritual and moral principles passed down by the Anishinaabe elders, which include wisdom, love, respect, bravery, honesty, humility, and truth.

Who is Mallory Graham and what is her role in the video?

Mallory Graham is an Anishinaabe-Kwe from TribalTradeCo.com who introduces and explains the seven grandfather teachings in the video.

What is the significance of the number seven in the context of the seven grandfather teachings?

The number seven signifies the seven powerful spirits or grandfathers who were given the responsibility to watch over the people on Mother Earth, and it also represents the seven gifts or teachings they imparted.

Why did the seven grandfathers decide to give their teachings to an innocent young child?

The seven grandfathers chose to give their teachings to an innocent young child who hadn't been corrupted yet, believing that the child could learn how to live a good life and carry these teachings forward.

What is the first gift of the seven grandfather teachings?

The first gift of the seven grandfather teachings is the gift of wisdom, which means to cherish knowledge and to know what is true and right.

How does the gift of love, as described in the teachings, contribute to a balanced life?

The gift of love contributes to a balanced life by encouraging care for oneself and others, leading to peace and an understanding of the balance in all of creation.

What does the gift of respect entail according to the seven grandfather teachings?

The gift of respect involves honoring all of creation, not wasting things, being mindful of the balance of living things, sharing, giving away what is not needed, and treating others as one would like to be treated.

How is bravery defined in the context of the seven grandfather teachings?

Bravery in the seven grandfather teachings is defined as facing life with courage, defending what is right, making positive choices, and having conviction with one's decisions.

What does the gift of honesty require of an individual?

The gift of honesty requires an individual to live with integrity, be honest with oneself, recognize and accept who they are, and not seek to deceive others or themselves.

How does the gift of humility relate to one's place in the circle of life?

The gift of humility teaches individuals to be humble, live selflessly, have a modest view of their importance in the circle of life, respect their place, and carry their pride with their people while acknowledging others.

What is the purpose of the seventh gift, truth, in the seven grandfather teachings?

The seventh gift, truth, is about showing honor and sincerity in all actions and words, being true to oneself and others, and living with the facts of reality without regret.

How do the seven grandfather teachings relate to personal development and well-being?

The seven grandfather teachings guide personal development and well-being by encouraging spiritual, mental, physical, and emotional growth, helping individuals to seek balance and harmony in their lives.

Outlines

00:00

🌱 Introduction to the Seven Grandfather Teachings

This paragraph introduces the concept of the seven grandfather teachings, an important part of the Anishinaabe culture. The speaker, Mallory Graham, invites the audience to learn more about these teachings, emphasizing their significance to indigenous peoples, especially the Anishinabek Nation. The paragraph also discusses the diversity of teachings among different North American tribes and shares a story from the Ojibwe tradition, where seven grandfathers, powerful spirits appointed by the Creator, decided to guide people on Mother Earth to live healthier, more positive lives. They chose an innocent child to receive these teachings.

05:03

🧠 The First Gift: Wisdom

The first of the seven grandfather teachings is wisdom. The gift of wisdom is about cherishing knowledge and understanding what is true and right. It emphasizes the ability to think and act with knowledge, recognizing one's own and others' differences in a respectful and kind way. Wisdom encourages people to use their gifts wisely to live a meaningful life.

❤️ The Second Gift: Love

The second teaching focuses on love. Love means caring for yourself and others, and when you learn how to love others, you achieve peace. This teaching conveys that love helps individuals understand the balance in life and creation. Love is seen as a key element in achieving harmony within oneself and in relationships with others.

🤝 The Third Gift: Respect

Respect, the third gift, emphasizes honoring all of creation and being mindful of the balance in the natural world. The teaching encourages not wasting resources and sharing with others. Respect also involves treating others as you would like to be treated, promoting kindness and fairness in one's actions.

🦁 The Fourth Gift: Bravery

Bravery, the fourth gift, encourages individuals to face life with courage and defend their beliefs. It teaches people to stand up for what is right for themselves, their family, and their community. Bravery involves making positive choices with conviction and facing fears to fully experience life.

🛡️ The Fifth Gift: Honesty

The fifth teaching, honesty, speaks to living with integrity and being truthful with oneself and others. Honesty involves accepting who you are and not deceiving yourself or others. This gift encourages individuals to be authentic in their actions and interactions with the world.

🌾 The Sixth Gift: Humility

Humility, the sixth gift, teaches the importance of being humble and selfless. It promotes the idea of living modestly and recognizing one's place in the circle of life. Humility reminds individuals to respect themselves, carry pride for their community, and acknowledge the contributions of those around them.

🔍 The Seventh Gift: Truth

The seventh and final gift is truth. Truth is about showing honor and sincerity in everything you say and do. It teaches people to live with honesty, accept reality, and act without regret. The teaching concludes that the seven grandfather teachings aim to guide individuals toward personal development in spiritual, mental, physical, and emotional aspects of life.

🎓 Conclusion and Next Steps

This paragraph concludes the teachings by reiterating their significance to the Anishinabek Nation and other indigenous communities. It encourages viewers to learn more about indigenous culture, specifically through resources like the free smudging guide available in the description. The video ends with a thank you message and an invitation to watch future content.

Keywords

💡Seven Grandfather Teachings

The Seven Grandfather Teachings are a set of principles that guide the Anishinaabe people in their spiritual and moral conduct. These teachings are deeply rooted in the indigenous culture and are passed down through generations. In the video, the teachings are presented as a gift from seven grandfathers to an innocent child, symbolizing the importance of these values in leading a good life. The teachings include wisdom, love, respect, bravery, honesty, humility, and truth, which are all essential for personal and communal well-being.

💡Anishinaabe

Anishinaabe refers to a group of indigenous people who are part of the Ojibwe tribe, which is one of the largest Native American tribes in North America. The term 'Anishinaabe-Kwe' used in the script refers to a female member of the Anishinaabe community. The video emphasizes the significance of the Seven Grandfather Teachings to the Anishinaabe people, showcasing their cultural heritage and traditional wisdom.

💡Turtle Island

Turtle Island is a term used by many indigenous peoples of North America to refer to the continent. It is a concept deeply rooted in their creation stories and is often used to express a connection to the land and the environment. In the script, 'Turtle Island' is mentioned to describe the place where the people were living in a negative and unhealthy way, highlighting the need for the teachings to guide them towards a better way of life.

💡Spirit Animals

In many indigenous cultures, spirit animals are believed to be guides or helpers that provide wisdom and protection. In the context of the Seven Grandfather Teachings, the script mentions that the child meets a spirit animal every seven years, which helps to explain one of the gifts. This concept is integral to the narrative, illustrating the role of spiritual guidance in understanding and applying the teachings.

💡Wisdom

Wisdom, as one of the Seven Grandfather Teachings, is defined in the video as cherishing knowledge and discerning what is true and right. It is the ability to think and act using knowledge. The script emphasizes the importance of using one's gifts wisely and living a life guided by these teachings, which is a central theme in the video's message of personal and communal development.

💡Love

Love is presented in the script as the second gift of the Seven Grandfather Teachings, signifying the importance of self-care and care for others. It is associated with achieving peace and understanding the balance of life. The video suggests that love is a fundamental aspect of living a harmonious life, both individually and within the community.

💡Respect

Respect, as outlined in the script, involves honoring all of creation, avoiding waste, and maintaining the balance of living things. It also implies sharing and treating others as one would like to be treated. This concept is crucial in the video's portrayal of how to live in harmony with nature and fellow human beings.

💡Bravery

Bravery, according to the script, is about facing life with courage and defending what is right for one's community and self. It is linked to making positive choices and living a life without regrets. The video uses bravery as an example of the kind of strength and conviction that is necessary for personal growth and community well-being.

💡Honesty

Honesty is described in the video as living with integrity and being truthful to oneself. It involves recognizing and accepting one's identity without deception. The script uses honesty as a teaching to encourage individuals to live authentic lives, which is essential for personal integrity and trust within communities.

💡Humility

Humility, as explained in the script, is about living selflessly, having a modest view of one's importance, and respecting one's place in the circle of life. It also involves carrying pride with one's people and acknowledging others. The video presents humility as a key teaching for fostering a sense of community and balance in one's life.

💡Truth

Truth, the seventh gift in the Seven Grandfather Teachings, is about showing honor and sincerity in one's actions and words. It is about being true to oneself and living with the facts of reality. The script emphasizes truth as a foundation for living without regrets and for making decisions that align with one's values and the reality of the world.

Highlights

Introduction to the seven grandfather teachings and their significance to the Anishinaabe people.

The seven grandfathers were powerful spirits given the responsibility to watch over the people on Mother Earth.

The seven grandfathers observed the negative and unhealthy way of life on Turtle Island and decided to help.

The seven teachings were given to an innocent young child to guide them to live a good life.

The child had to travel the earth for a lifetime to learn the meaning of each of the seven gifts.

The first gift is wisdom, which means to cherish knowledge and act with it.

The second gift is love, emphasizing the importance of self-care and care for others.

The third gift is respect, teaching the honor of all creation and the balance of living things.

The fourth gift is bravery, encouraging facing life with courage and making positive choices.

The fifth gift is honesty, which is about living with integrity and being true to oneself.

The sixth gift is humility, advocating for a modest view of one's importance in the circle of life.

The seventh and final gift is truth, which is about showing sincerity in all actions and words.

The teachings emphasize the importance of spiritual, mental, physical, and emotional development for happiness and health.

Each person represents the child in the story, going through a journey of discovery and personal growth.

Invitation to learn more about indigenous culture and the smudging process through a free guide.

Closing remarks and acknowledgment of the viewers for their interest in the seven grandfather teachings.

Transcripts

Have you heard of the seven grandfather teachings?

Watch this video for the original story of the seven grandfather teachings that have

been passed down to us from our Anishinaabe elders.

I'm Mallory Graham, Anishinaabe-Kwe from TribalTradeCo.com.

Be sure to subscribe and hit the bell for new videos every week on smudging, the indigenous

culture, and native teachings.

If you've never heard of these seven grandfather teachings before, or if you want to know more

about the importance of these seven teachings to indigenous people, then we are here to

share the teaching of the seven grandfathers that is so important to the Anishinabek Nation.

The indigenous people of North America have different stories and traditional teachings

amongst the different tribes and nations.

The Ojibwe teaching tells us that there were seven grandfathers that were given the responsibility

by the Creator to watch over the people on Mother Earth.

These seven grandfathers were very powerful spirits.

They recognized that life was not good for the people on Mother Earth.

The people on Turtle Island were living in a negative, unhealthy way, and the grandfathers

wanted to help them.

The seven grandfathers decided to give the gift of these seven teachings, or gifts, to

an innocent young child who hadn't been corrupted yet and still could learn how to live a good

life.

A young child was chosen to take on the role of receiving these gifts and first met the

seven grandfathers, who were all sitting in a lodge that was said to be the source of

all knowledge.

The teaching tells us that when the gifts were given to the child, he didn't know what

they were.

The child had to travel the earth for an entire lifetime to learn what each of these seven

gifts were.

And every seven years, the child met a spirit animal that explained to him what one of the

gifts was and what it meant.

The first gift of the seven grandfather teachings was the gift of wisdom.

Wisdom means to cherish knowledge and to know what is true and what is right.

It is the ability to think and to act using knowledge.

The teaching tells us to use your own gifts wisely and to live your life by them.

Recognize your differences and those of others in a kind and respectful way.

The second gift of the seven grandfather teachings was the gift of love.

To love means to care for yourself and care for others.

Once you know how to love and to love others, then you will truly be at peace.

To feel love will also show you the balance of life and for all of creation.

The third gift of the seven grandfather teachings was the gift of respect.

Respect means to honor all of creation.

Do not waste things, and be mindful of the balance of all living things.

It teaches us to share and to give away what you do not need.

Respect also means to treat others the way that you would like to be treated.

Have you guys heard of the seven grandfather teachings before?

Please let us know in the comments below.

The fourth gift of the seven grandfather teachings was the gift of bravery.

Bravery means to face life with courage.

Defend what you believe in and what is right for your community, your family, and for yourself.

Make positive choices and have conviction with your decisions.

Face your fears and allow yourself to live your life.

The fifth teaching of the seven grandfather teachings is the gift of honesty.

Honesty means to go through your life with integrity and to be honest with yourself.

Recognize and accept who you are.

The teaching tells us to not seek to deceive others or yourself.

The sixth gift of the seven grandfather teachings is the gift of humility.

Humility means to be humble, to live life selflessly and not selfishly.

Try to have a modest view for how important you are in the circle of life.

The teaching tells us to respect your place and to carry your pride with your people,

and also to praise acknowledgements of everyone around you.

Now, the seventh gift of the seven grandfather teachings is the gift of truth.

Truth means to show honor and sincerity in all that you say and do.

Be true to yourself and to all other things.

Truth gives us the ability to act without regret and to live with the facts of reality.

The seven grandfather teachings teach us that in order for people to be happy and healthy,

they must seek to develop themselves spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally.

The teaching demonstrates that each one of us represent the child in the story going

through this journey of discovery and personal development.

Now you know the seven grandfather teachings that are so important to the Anishinabek Nation

and other indigenous people.

If you're wanting to learn more about the indigenous culture and the smudging process,

then download our free smudging guide at the link in the description below.

Thank you so much for watching.

We'll see you next time.