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7 Sacred teachings

Saud Chaudhry

Department of Indigenous studies – University of Manitoba

INDG2000- Indigenous and the Military

Shauna Mulligan

February 8,2024

Indigenous wisdom, as captured in the Seven Sacred Teachings serves to give a point of view through which one can look at this nexus between tradition, military service and course concepts. Each lesson, represented by animals, teaches virtues essential to a balanced life. This study explores the practice of these teachings among Indigenous military members, exposing a peculiar amalgamation of archaic principles in modern service.

Beaver - Wisdom

The Beaver, reflecting the Indigenous virtue of Wisdom, is a powerful analogy on how to draw from one's personal knowledge and experience for communal welfare. Wisdom in the Beaver teachings does not limit itself to intellectual cleverness but refers instead to making decisions that promote a prosperous and healthy community. Just as the Beaver employs its sharp teeth to cut down trees and branches in order to build dams and lodges, Indigenous people see that their particular gifts given by the creator should be used in the best way possible so that they may benefit the community. In army life, Beaver's Wisdom becomes manifest in decision-making procedures. Indigenous service personnel harness their cultural knowledge, gained from centuries of practice, to navigate complicated issues (Munford & Sanders, 2011). This wisdom is based on the fact that there are no actions in isolation, but rather, they need each other to survive; for example, it cannot be denied how important Beaver's teeth use is. In a similar vein, the skills and experiences of Indigenous military members are used to serve effectively towards collective well-being, which points out that thoughtful actions must be undertaken when faced with challenges.

Eagle - Love

The eagle, representing love from the Indigenous ontological point of view, gives deep insights into what unconditional and interconnected love is. Love, symbolized by the eagle, is above personal relationships and becomes a spiritual bond with the Great Spirit. The belief that true love is to know the creator supports the Indigenous understanding of love as a force that brings people together and joins them in oneness. In the case of military service, eagle's teachings find relevance in the profound bond personnel develop with their responsibility, buddies, and society. Loving the Great Spirit is illustrated through devotion to a noble cause and an attachment to values that go beyond self-interests (Medina, 2014). This spiritual link is the foundation of an Indigenous military member's identity and sense of responsibility.

Buffalo - Respect

The Buffalo, as a reflection of the virtue of Respect in Indigenous teachings, offers an interesting angle on how all life forms are interdependent and how human beings live mutually beneficial relationships with other living creatures. Respect, symbolized by the Buffalo, is more than just a mere acknowledgment of differences; it reflects an understanding that every living thing has its own place in the complicated tapestry that constitutes reality. The world of military service is mirrored in Buffalo's teachings, which are reflected by Indigenous people's pledge to treat their environment, comrades, and other communities with the deepest respect (Bouchard, 2016). The sacrifice of the Buffalo, food, and materials to Indigenous families is a reflection of reciprocity in terms of respect that defines Indigenous perceptions. Similarly, the respect that Indigenous military service personnel bring into their roles results in a long-term relationship with the wider military community and recognition of every member's contribution to a common mission. The lessons from the Buffalo highlight that every person is valuable and should be appreciated, creating a sense of comradeship and mutual responsibility in military service, mimicking the original respect Indigenous people speak about when talking about their relationship with Buffalos as well as its role in prosperity.

Bear - Courage

The Bear as Courage in the Indigenous teachings provides an immense insight into how to cope with threats, whether they are danger, fear, or simply change through courage and bravery. Bear is seen as a gentle animal by the native tribes, but when defending his cubs, it reflects the strength of courage. This, however, instructs that four bears nothing to do with death fear but being bold enough to conquer ardent the benefit. With respect to military service, Indigenous service members demonstrate bravery under duress, and this appears in tales told by Bear (Simpson, 2017). The conception of responsibility belonging to the Bear implies that the representatives from Indigenous military services will be ready to protect their communities according to cleaning rules and directives. This bravery goes beyond physical competence to mental and moral fortitude for a person as they live up to their spirit in times of danger or apparent threat. The example of the Bear, thus, becomes a light to all Indigenous military personnel and inspires them to never tire of dealing with difficulties in service. Examples of the courageous acts contributed by indigenous individuals through their admirable and desirable attributes, such as Bear, that show much to military service ethos also show how these people constitute an important aspect of who they are, what qualities describe them or rather with whom in turn deem themselves loyal.

Sabe - Honesty

Truth, personified by Sabe in the Indigenous instructional process, leads to speaking and acting truthfully. The figure of the giant Kitch-Sabe, who walked among people to remind them to be honest towards laws set by the creator and each other, is a powerful symbol. The highest honor that can be given to an individual in the Indigenous context is being regarded as honest and trustworthy (Kovach, 2021). In the military, Sabe's teachings become evident in the honesty and integrity that Indigenous service members bring to their jobs. Keeping the promises not only to God but also to other soldiers and even oneself is closely related to military discipline. The advice given by the Elders encourages people to live their lives as it was intended and be who they are, created by the creator, emphasizing integrity. Sabe’s teachings become the groundwork of moral behavior for Indigenous military personnel, creating an environment built on trust and reciprocity. As they follow the principle of honesty, Indigenous people add to military operations that embody Sabe principles and values, which are embedded in human nature.

Wolf - Humility

A Wolf in Indigenous teachings is the representation of humility as well as not being haughty. The Wolf, in its head, bowing to other creatures and sharing food with his packmates is, however, an otherwise touching demonstration of the acknowledgment beyond oneself. In the military environment, there is a voice from Wolf's teaching, which manifests in indigenous members' humility in their roles (Bouchard, 2016). Awareness of some greater power, whether spiritual or loyalty to something bigger than oneself, aids in being humble. The lack of arrogance and respect towards his community is becoming a kind of guiding principle for Indigenous military personnel, implying the need to think about others before oneself. This humility contributes to the bonding of military teams, an environment where each member is valuable and respected. By the spirit of Wolf, Indigenous individuals fortify military units by personifying humility as a core to their leadership and collaboration with other members of broader society.

Turtle - Truth

Truth in the form of the turtle as a personification is one fundamental principle that stresses knowing and understanding the sacred laws that the creator has given. The Grandmother Turtle, who was there at the origin when the creator gave seven sacred laws, is a guardian not to let these get lost or forgotten. In terms of military duty, the teachings delivered by the turtle are reflected in Indigenous members of the armed forces as they vow to uphold the truth. The turtle's shell, with its markings that symbolize the cycles of Earth and a woman's body, serves as a reminder of the will and teachings of the creator. This symbolic burden is carried by the native military personnel who want to remain loyal to the original laws; consequently, they contribute to the moral fiber of service. With the symbol of the turtle as a motivating factor, Indigenous service members are reminded to be truthful in their actions and decisions. The indigenous people, in their personification of the turtle, also add to the moral integrity that is expected from military service, so truth and fidelity, which govern them as human beings, stay at their center.

Conclusion

The investigation of indigenous teachings with respect to military service shows an extremely deep connection between old wisdom and modern duty. The Seven Sacred Teachings are animals and come from respect for life, providing a perspective that is different than any other view on the Indigenous paradigm. With the military service becoming a live platform where different views meet, wisdom, love, respect, courage, honesty, humility, and truth become part of the ethical holistic aspects of the profession. Following these teachings, indigenous military members bring a cultural sensitivity into their roles, which makes them more colorful for their wider community. The very fact that these teachings remain relevant even today points to the necessity of acknowledging and understanding how tradition, spirituality, or religion must be modified in response to new military responsibilities among Indigenous people.

References

Bouchard, D. (2016). Seven sacred teachings. Crow Cottage Publishing.

Kovach, M. (2021). Indigenous methodologies: Characteristics, conversations, and contexts. University of Toronto press.

Medina, R. A. (2014). Sacred purpose: Indigenous teachings informing pedagogy of eagleagle and the condor (Doctoral dissertation, San Diego State University).

Munford, R., & Sanders, J. (2011). Embracing the diversity of practice: Indigenous knowledge and mainstream social work practice. Journal of Social Work Practice, 25(1), 63-77.

Simpson, L. B. (2017). As we have always done: Indigenous freedom through radical resistance. U of Minnesota Press.