If you've been following along, we don't really do things the usual way. At Heart Berry we are always aligning and re aligning ourselves with who we are as Ojibwe. When we work and lead from the heart our choices are often different. As the boss I am thinking about how do I want to lead, how do I want to provide opportunities for development not only as staff but development of us as Ojibwes.
This past winter we began to offer Ojibwe language study time as paid time at work. My belief is that this reciprocity is what helps us thrive. I want a staff that is connecting, learning, and growing as Ojibwe people, not only as "workers". Who we fundamentally are is rooted in our language and I want my staff to have the opportunity to continue their language journeys.
In June we headed to Mooningwaakaning, or Madeline Island, to spend a day with elders and knowledge carriers. For Lu and Kaage, this was their first time returning to this place. Yes, I understand that sentence may sound weird. But when Mike Wiggins, the museum director said "welcome home", they mean welcome home. We spent the day connecting with this powerful and beautiful motherland we came from and through in our passages back and forth across these great lakes.
Elder in residence Rob Goslyn shared incredible insights into the island and the history of the power of this area we migrated back and forth over. Mike walked us through the new powerful exhibit Passages at the Madeline Island Museum and then whisked us off in the state vehicle for a tour of the island.
From making our own asemaa (tobacco), learning about big water canoeing, treaty rights, to traditional maps drawn in the sand we spent the day immersed in learning.
Alongside our Bad River relatives, we walked the Reservation area gathering eagle feathers and learning about the fishing abundant tides of the lake. In short, this magical day left us all with so much richness to ponder and carry forward into our lives.
When we are working and living in alignment with our values we will feel full, alive, and thriving. This day was a swell of goodness.
For me, the teaching I am carrying into my life comes from a story Mike shared about how when the voyageurs traveled with our ancestors no matter where they ended up, a rock, an island, the people were "at home". As I work to rest my mind and heart in this fast paced world of anxiety inducing social media and world events this way of being is what I am putting into practice every day. No matter where I find myself in our homelands I am at home. No matter where I am I am at home in my heart.
Lu, Heart Berry social media manager, shares about her experience going back as "Experiencing Madeline Island for the first time was filled with history of our people, stunning lake views, and a sense of grounding I didn't expect, but deeply needed."
Kaage, our Shop Manager says "Visiting Mooningwaakaning felt like coming home. I felt a great sense of strength and belonging walking on the beaches with the sound of th ewaves, our stories, and laughter. A piece of my heart lives there now."
My hope is that we can continue to be a business that leads with Heart. I hope this finds you with moments to reconnect, learn, and develop yourself. This experience left me in awe of the wealth we come from. It is just waiting for us to jump in a boat to get there.
-Giizh
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