Grandmother
Moon
The first of mothers, having given birth to her
children, nurtured them to manhood and womanhood. Her purpose and nature fulfilled,
she returned to her own world. But before her ascension, she reminded her
children that she would not forget them. She would, she assured them, continue
to watch over them at night through the moon. For their part, the children
promised to remember the first of mothers whenever the moon appeared in the
sky.
By day Father Sun and Mother Earth looked after the
children; by night Grandmother Moon shone in the heavens to guide men’s paths.
Thus is the primacy of womanhood remembered.
The first father of the Anishinabeg being a spirit,
returned to the heavens after the conception of twins. Unlike the first mother,
who was remembered and honored, the first father was forgotten. He had not left
a token, a sign, or a mark by which he could be remembered. Animkee (thunder), for that was his name,
became despondent and bitter over the neglect and forgetfulness of his
grandchildren. In his anger he emerged
from the western skies calling out in a voice that reverberated across the
heavens.
Obscured in the clouds, he crossed directly over the
homes and villages of the Anishinabeg. In his fury, he shot lighting arrows at
the earth, and whipped the clouds until they cried their tears upon the earth.
He seldom remained but passed on toward the east.
At first he was alone. Later, he was joined by many
other grandfathers.
Together and numerous they often stormed the
Anishinabeg. Men and women were
terrified whenever great clouds formed, lightning’s flashed, and thunders shook
the skies. From Nanaboozhoo the Anishinabeg learned to offer the sacred tobacco
to the grandfathers.
Thereafter it became a custom to offer tobacco to the
thunders. To the Anishinabeg, the tree,
the creature, the portion of earth pierced by a lightning arrow was deemed to possess
medicine and power.
More distant from the grandchildren than is the
grandmother, grandfathers are not to be less remembered and honored. They too
have shared in the gift of life and in guiding the destinies of grandchildren.