From Elder to Ancestor— A Life For All Generations
By Constance Meyer
The people of the Miniss Kitigan Drum, an organization for teaching traditional herbals and Anishinaabeg Philosophy is grieving the loss of Keewaydinoquay, (Woman of the Northwest Wind of the Crane Clan), our beloved Elder. She passed to the West on July 21, 1999 after suffering a long series of illnesses. Three weeks before, her dear friend, Martha Best, opened the way for her with her own passing. We miss these two, who have given so much.
We had a traditional 4-day burial ceremony and out of 300 or so internationally-spread people of the Drum, about 81 traveled to Garden Island to see Mother Earth enfold Kee once again.
Kee started her journey in this earth realm early this century in the upper part of the lower peninsula of Michigan. She did not attend boarding schools as so many of her contemporaries did, but learned from the elders around her. She petitioned the Mishkikiquay (Medicine Woman) to be her apprentice and Kee's knowledge of plants started in a traditional way.
Kee taught in the public schools of Michigan before journeying to New Zealand to teach and do field work in Ethnobotany there. Upon returning to the States in the late 70's, she taught Ethnobotany as well as Native American Philosophy and Spirituality at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. A charismatic speaker, she encouraged small talking groups of students and a small following started, as it seemed the students were seeking what Kee had to give even outside of class. Her camp on Garden Island in Lake Michigan began around 1978, where Kee would go in the summers with some of her students to study Ethnobotany first-hand. While working on her thesis, she would also write down the legends. Healings were given as need would arise and Kee would often ask students for help with her work, trading energy for energy.
She moved to Milwaukee in the early 1980's, teaching in the Native American Studies area at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. She found that her students were similar to those in the Ann Arbor group, and she once remarked that she found it surprising how hungry they were for her knowledge, though she didn't initially recognize her knowledge as valuable. (We teach each other!)
The camp at Garden Island continues as there are other Elders now—Kee's earlier students! We are very committed to continuing, as Kee wished. We study the plants, make the medicinals as Kee taught us to do, and much Spiritual work goes on there and will continue. We endeavor to live life in the fullest sense, in Bimadisiwin, so when we pass, it's with honor, too.
Migwaej
Constance Meyer
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