The Seven Teachings of the Anishinaabe
(The People– the Ojibwe, the Odowa and the Potawatome)
Teachings of the Seven Grandfathers, known simply as either the Seven Teachings or Seven Grandfathers, is a set of teaching on human conduct towards others, taught among the Anishinaabe peoples.
According to the aadizookaan (traditional story), the teachings were given to the Anishinaabeg early in their history. Seven Grandfathers asked their messenger to take a survey of the human condition. At that time the human condition was not very good. Eventually in his quest, the messenger came across a child. After receiving approval from the Seven Grandfathers, tutored the child in the “Good way of Life“. Before departing from the Seven Grandfathers, each of the Grandfathers instructed the child with a principle.
Honesty
To achieve honesty within yourself,
To recognize who and what you are.
Do this and you can be honest with all others
Humility
Humble yourself and recognize that
No matter how much you think you know,
You know very little of all the universe.
Truth
To learn truth,
To live with truth, and
To walk with truth,
To speak truth
Wisdom
To have wisdom is to know the difference between good and bad, and
To know the result of your actions
Love
Unconditional love to know that when people are weak
They need your love the most,
That your love is given freely, and
You cannot put conditions on it
Or your love is not true
Respect
Respect others, their beliefs, and
Respect yourself.
If you cannot show respect,
You cannot expect respect to be given
Bravery
To be brave is to do something right,
Even if you know it’s going to hurt you.