UPDATE: The person involved spoke with me in person, and so I have decided to remove her name from this post. Thank you also for the support I have received, it warms my heart.
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Just got back home (Kitigan Zibi) after a 65 hour fast. For approximately 10 years my fasting ceremonies have been taking place within the perimeters of my home community. Before that time, I went to the Temagami area and also to Thunder Bay. I fast twice a year, once in the spring during the time of the Flower Moon (May), the other in autumn, during the time of the Moon of Falling Leaves (October). I have been doing so faithfully since five years after my sobriety began over 30 years ago. At the beginning I fasted for 4 days and nights, no food, no water. I never once quit. Spirit at the fasting circle has always been kind and generous to me. I have learned so much and I believe each ceremony has made me a better man of the Algonquin Nation. Part of my ceremony is and always will be for the revival of the original spiritual beliefs of this country. Indigenous spirituality is real. It is strong and beautiful and needs to be brought back to those of us who recognize it as something spiritually special that Creator gave solely to us, the original inhabitants of these magnificent and resource-rich lands. Spirituality? It is water! Try filling a glass with loonies and pouring them down your throat, it won’t quench your thirst.
On the afternoon of Wednesday, October 24, I left the serenity, solitude and healing of the fasting circle and arrived into my home feeling very much at peace with the world and spiritually well. Then a call comes in via my cell phone notifying me that a young Algonquin woman is attacking me on Facebook. This person advocates for Windmill Development Group, the developer hell-bent on building condos on a sacred site located in the heart of Algonquin Anishinabe territory. The screenshot of some of her comments is below (with her name removed).
At no surprise to myself, I discover that she does not recognize me as an “elder.” This is quite OK with me. I never set out in life hoping that people like her would embrace me as an “elder.” I don’t even like the word “elder.” To me, it is a word too closely connected to organized religion. I prefer to be known as a human rights activist, and to those who wish, as a spiritual advisor and helper. That being said, there are folks in my community of Kitigan Zibi (KZ) who do refer to me as an elder and I’m at peace with it. I’ve been asked a couple of times to help out as an elder with KZ’s Pow Wow. On one occasion I accepted. I’ve helped out at the school as an elder (after a tragic event had taken place) and was called in to help when the Restorative Justice program was revived. Obviously, there are many people in my home community who do regard me as an elder.
I do not know this person. All I know with 100% certainty is that I have not harmed her in any way. She has no call to attack me as she has. Her comments about me on Facebook were extremely hurtful. It was heartbreaking for me to feel under attack by a young Algonquin woman. If she wants, I’d be happy to sit with her and tell her the many reasons why I do not object to folks recognizing me as a spiritual advisor and she can tell me the reasons why she believes I am not. Whoever it was who put those hurtful words into her mouth tricked her. Why?
This young woman also attacked Jane Ann Chartrand on Facebook. Jane is an Anishinabe Kwe and grandmother beyond 70 years of age. Her comments about Jane are vile and shocking, and could be described as a violent attack on Jane’s character. (Whatever happened to ending violence against our women?) Do the ugly words cast at Jane Chartrand by Josée come from the teachings of her “elders”? Or are they the words of someone who is slowly heading to a place where souls are bought and bartered for? Young Anishinabe women attacking old Anishinabe citizens is not our way of life. When such nonsense becomes commonplace, it will mean that the Anishinabe Nation no longer exists.
I help out however I can to return Akikodjiwan (AKA Chaudière Falls and the nearby islands) to the People. It is a sacred place, and always was to the Algonquin Anishinabe of past times. I’ll continue to do what I can to preserve it and will do so without expecting monetary compensation for the countless hours I have invested in this very worthy and honourable cause. In my eyes the Free the Falls group are solid activists whom I welcome by my side in the struggle to save sacred Akikodjiwan. So what if many of them are white people! Has it become a sin to be a white activist? She blasted the Free the Falls activists for being “white,” yet the people at Windmill who want to build condos on our sacred site are, yeah, you guessed it, white people.
However all this plays out in the end, I will not hold any grudges nor condemn Algonquins who fought on the side of the developer for condos to be built on our sacred land. Their beliefs are what they are and I recognize their human right to defend them. I expect the other side to do likewise for me.
By the way, I don’t have a clue as to what an “Algonquin Practitioner” is.
Keep the Circle Strong,
South Wind (Albert Dumont)
Idk either but seems money has decided people again perhaps.. there is no elder really for sovereign ogwehonwe/original people’s in 2006 I was given title of spiritual advisor by the people o am. Ot self proclaimed an was given much responsibility by clan mother to protect the people.. so what do the original people say of this issue..Band has no voice assimilated should have no voice for can not walk two roads an have one good mind?! So whom tried to follow the way of life given yet those I would seek out an speak with.. the dancer speak as if Dumont is a outsider originally if so was he traditional adopted??? But have more questions so now hmm who is the dancer..It been a while since I been in their territory at gathering an blockades.. so too much to be said should not so kind to condo people history proves they do not care nothing for us.. stand strong against them till not but one of you is left is my spiritual advise .. cause that is haudenodaunni way as well..So why is this issue taken to the old council {not band council} but the real council thru the gathering around the fire for it to be resolved??? Idk I outside looking ..skeauno{peace}
Albert Dumont has been instrumental in helping my eldest daughter. He has been a lifeline for her. He is the first Elder that has been utilized/approved in the Kitigan Zibi community to help my daughter who is in a desperate situation. He sees the potential in her and he has went as far to have her share her story at Roger’s TV that will be aired in a month or so. He is helping her deal with loss of her brother. She is getting better day by day and I feel it is because of Albert’s presence in her life. He is a helper, a caring, compassionate soul who does not pass judgement on those who suffer from addictions. I cannot say enough about this man who is eager to help my daughter and the youth in our community. I feel if my son would have had someone like this in his life, that he would be alive today… Let us not judge or be cruel to our helpers no matter where they come from. Albert Dumont is a true Anishshinabe who is allowed to have his views on the sacred grounds that are being exploited by Windmill. William Commanda, one of our/Canada’s greatest Elders frowned upon development of the sacred falls. He wanted to see the area around the falls and Victoria Island returned to its natural state under the stewardship of the Algonquin people. He worked with First Nations architect Douglas Cardinal and the National Capital Commission to design an aboriginal centre on Victoria Island and a place to celebrate peace and bring people together.
I really this this Albert:
“At no surprise to myself, I discover that she does not recognize me as an “elder.” This is quite OK with me. I never set out in life hoping that people like her would embrace me as an “elder.” I don’t even like the word “elder.” To me, it is a word too closely connected to organized religion.”