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Learning Together Joyfully: SEVEN SACRED TEACHINGS: WISDOM. The Seven Sacred Teachings, also known as the Teachings of the Seven Grandfathers, is a set of teachings on human conduct towards others. The 7 Guiding Principles include: respect, humility, courage, truth, wisdom, love, and honesty. Many Aboriginal organizations and communities have adopted the 7 guiding principles, in one form or another, as moral and cultural foundations. Many Aboriginal organizations and communities have adopted the 7 guiding principles, in one form or another, as a moral steppingstone and cultural foundation. Each community has adapted the teachings to suit their community values. These Seven Teachings act as guiding principles towards restoration of the cultural values, beliefs, and practices that were forbidden to Indigenous peoples. Recognizing that not all First Nations, Métis and Inuit cultures and histories recognize The Seven Sacred Teachings or the Teachings of the Seven Grandfathers, the intent is to be as inclusive as possible. Despite where the teachings may have originated, they share the importance of abiding by a moral respect for all living things. In March, the focus of the sacred teaching is on wisdom.

Wisdom is about using the gift the Great Spirit gave us to serve, and to build a strong family, community and Nation. The building of a community is entirely dependent on gifts given to each member by the creator and how these gifts are used.  When used properly however, these gifts contribute to the development of a peaceful and healthy community. Our gifts do not belong to us as individuals, but belong to all the people, to serve the good of the Nation. If the beaver did not use his gift to build, his teeth would grow long, and he would die. Similarly, if we do not use our gifts in a good way for the benefit of the Earth and the brothers and sisters of our nations, we too would die spiritually.

Quick Links

Use these links to quickly navigate to specific sections within this blog!

  1. Read and Sing Together
  2. Create Together
  3. Reflect: Thoughts of the Day About Learning

1.  Read and Sing Together 📚

  • The Wise Woman and Her Secret by Eve Merriam. Although many try to force from the wise woman the secret of her wisdom, the truth is made clear only to a young girl who shows the capacity for wandering and wondering. Wisdom is remaining curious, asking questions and wanting to discover more about our grand world.
  • Amik Loves School: A Story of Wisdom by Katherena Vermette. This book is one of the Seven Sacred Teachings series. Amik tells Moshoom about his wonderful school. Then his grandfather tells him about the residential school he went to, much different from Amik’s school. So Amik has an idea…Set in urban landscapes, Indigenous children tell familiar stories about home, school and community.

  • Lore of the Wild; Folklore and Wisdom from Nature by Claire Cock Stockley.  See nature in a whole new light with this enchantingly illustrated treasury of natural folklore and wild wisdom from around the world. Did you know that people used to believe that rabbits’ ears would twitch in the direction of a thunderstorm or that lily of the valley flowers were formed from fairies’ drinking cups or that taking dandelions into the house would make you wet the bed? Traditional nature folklore can help us understand how our ancestors interacted with the world around them and allows us to view nature from a new perspective. Stunningly delicate and magical illustrations capture the magic and strangeness inherent in natural folklore, and cultures from around the world are represented in this comprehensive compendium. This book inspires an appreciation of different cultures, as well as an engagement with the beauty of the natural environment, and is a treasure trove of superstitions, ancient wisdom, and enchanting folktales.
  • Little Homesteader; A Winter Treasury of Recipes, Crafts, and Wisdom by Angela Ferraro-Fanning. This charmingly illustrated seasonal treasury of nature-based crafts, baking recipes, and gardening projects for the winter celebrates the homesteading lifestyle with self-sufficient and eco-friendly fun. Easy yet delicious winter recipes and treats that introduce young readers to local and seasonal eating. From berry cookies to hot cocoa recipes to warm up after a winter walk, the easy-to-make recipes will inspire kids to get into the kitchen.
  • Little Olympians 2 – Athena, Goddess of Wisdom by A. I Newton. Little gods, big personalities! This series follows little versions of the Greek gods who are at a camp to learn how to control their powers and use them properly–as well as learn to get along with one another. This book follows Athena as the Little Olympians prepare for their own Olympic Games! All the other gods brag about what competitions they’ll win because of their powers–Artemis and Apollo will surely win any bow-and-arrow practice, Ares will win any strength competition, and Hermes will win any footrace–but in what event can Athena possibly take the gold? Yes, she’s wise, but she can’t match their godly powers . . . or can she? As the games begin, Athena has to find unconventional ways to stay in the competition. Will she be able to use strategy and cunning to win the Olympics and show that knowledge is the ultimate power? Older children may wish to listen to a video about Athena: The Goddess of Wisdom. (5:46 mins.)
  • The Elders Are Watching by David Bouchard and Illustrations by Roy Henry Vickers. This book is a powerful and stunningly beautiful way to impact little minds on the importance of the environment and respecting the wisdom and knowledge passed onto them from elders.
Book cover: The elders are watching
  • Zomo the Rabbit: A Trickster Tale from West Africa by Gerald McDermottt. Zomo the rabbit, a trickster from West Africa, wants wisdom. But he must accomplish three apparently impossible tasks before Sky God will give him what he wants. Is he clever enough to do as Sky God asks? “The tale moves along with the swift concision of a good joke, right down to its satisfying punch line. ”Wildly exuberant, full of slapstick and mischief, this version of an enduring Nigerian trickster tale, featuring a clever rabbit, is a storyteller’s delight.”
  • Ananse and the Pot of Wisdom – West African folktale by Adwoa Badoe. This animated film of a West African folktale from Ghana, features Ananse the Spider, who receives a special gift – the pot of wisdom – from Nyame, the god of heaven. He decides not to share it with anyone else. It was Ananse’s son who pointed out the error of his ways, which made Ananse dump the pot angrily, thereby losing all the wisdom, which spread all over the world. This story teaches us to be wise and not greedy.

BOOKS ABOUT BEAVERS:

  • Beavers by Deborah Hodge. How beavers dam ponds and build lodges are just two of 14 topics in this clearly written title in the popular and informative Kids Can Press Wildlife Series. You will find out why beavers chew on trees, where they give birth and raise their young, how they escape danger and much more. Did you know? A beaver never stops growing; A beaver can stay underwater for up to 15 minutes; Some beaver dams are longer than a soccer field; Beaver babies can see, hear, walk and swim as soon as they are born. This book is beautifully detailed, realistic illustrations give young children a close-up look at beavers and satisfy their curiosity about these intriguing animals. 
  • A Spring Adventure With Beavers by Brenda Boreham and Terri Mack. This book uses both fiction and non-fiction as a unique approach to storytelling. On left-hand pages, lyrical text and colourful illustrations tell a story of a young beaver’s early morning spring adventure. Using her senses, the kit discovers the world around her lodge. Expertly woven into this delightful story are interesting facts about beavers and other plants and animals in this wetland ecosystem. Captioned and labelled photographs, word boxes, a diagram, and a map make the non-fiction portion of this book an accessible source of information for young readers.
  • I’m Done! By Gretchen Brandeburg McLellan. Little Beaver would rather play with friends than build a proper dam, but finally he is ready to get it done.
  • Beavers by Gail Gibbons. Beavers are fascinating animals. They build their own homes and live in family groups. They keep busy with their sharp teeth, powerful tails, and big webbed feet. Their work helps to preserve wetlands. Gibbons explores where they live, what they eat, how they raise their young, and much more.
  • The Busy Beaver (Life in the Wild ) by Nicolas Oldland. The busy but careless beaver spends his days following random impulses, rarely thinking things through and leaving in his wake a devastated forest filled with stumps, half-nibbled trees and injured, homeless animals. But then one day the beaver finds himself on the wrong side of a falling tree, which as it turns out, is just the thing to knock some sense into him. After reflecting on his behavior, he decides to make some changes. Soon, the now wiser and gentler beaver is getting down to the business of making things right, much to the delighted surprise of his forest friends. This charming story from the creator of Big Bear Hug and Making the Moose Out of Life gently teaches youngsters how to take care with others, as well as the world around us.  
  • Dam Builders: The Natural History of Beavers and their Ponds by Michael Runtz. Few animals in the world are as famous or as infamous as the beaver, and none except humans, has the ability to so dramatically transform its environment. Beavers are remarkable animals. They have teeth that self-sharpen and never stop growing, and a heart that slows down and valves that close in their ears and noses when they dive. Their tail is the most multi-purpose of any animal on this planet; in addition to communication its many functions include serving as an air conditioner in summer and a food pantry in winter.
  • Awesome by Craig Shuttlewood.Marvin the moose and Woody the beaver are best friends, but after a heroic deed Marvin is too popular to have time for Woody, who sets out to prove that he is awesome, too.
  • Beaver Is Lost by Elisha Cooper. Oh, no–Beaver is lost! Will he ever find his way back home? In this nearly wordless picture book by Elisha Cooper, winner of a Best Illustrated Children’s Book award, a young beaver is accidentally separated from his family. Follow Beaver as he’s chased by a dog, visits a zoo, and even finds himself in the middle of a busy city street. With luminous pencil-and-watercolor illustrations by an artist whose work the “New York Times” has called “simple and quiet and essentially perfect,” “Beaver Is Lost” is sure to delight animal lovers everywhere.

SONGS and VIDEOS:

BEAVERS: sing the songs and create the puppets below so children can join in the actions.

WISDOM:

2. Create Together 🧩

3. Reflect: Thoughts of the Day About Wisdom & Learning 💭