This is the story of my life when I was named Woman Who Holds Fire.My stories are fed and nurtured by memory, which is never a constant orfixed, especially as the construct of time passes through the manydimensions. My memory is one that intertwines with other lives andexistences prior. My spirit name before was the One Who is Looking, whenI lived several lives in constant search of anything that would shock my soulinto an awakening. I remember being hungry all the time - nothing Iconsumed felt like it was enough to satiate my hunger. I also felt that I was3chasing my own tail, round and round I went until one day in 1972, when aseries of events unravelled.I have existed in several dimensions, and I have survived the land of theliving many times.
Nenaboozhoo really liked the Anishinaabek for the way that they conducted themselves. He liked the way they dressed, the way they lived, how their families were, and how they kept their lodges nice and clean. And he liked that there was no infighting amongst them. He really respected the Anishinaabek for how they were as a nation. At that time, the Anishinaabek didn't have fire. So Nenaboozhoo told them, "I think I know what you need. I'm going to go look for it. But if I don't come back, if I perish in my quest to bring you this, I want you to remember me and sing songs about me."Nenaboozhoo gii bshigendamaan Anishinaaben gaa zhi zhichigewaad. Gii bshigendaan gaa zhi nookniiyewaad, gaa zhi maadziwaad, miinwaa dash wiinwaa da Dodemowaan, miinwaa aaniish gaa zhi gnawenmowaad Wiigwaaman, gnaajwang miinwaa biinchigaadek. Miinwaa gii bshigendaan gaawiin gii miigaandisiiwag. Gii maamiikwendmaan Anishinaaben gaa zhi maadiwaad. Wi pii, Anishinaabek gaawiin gii yaaziinaawaa shkode. Mii dash Nenaboozhoo gii wiindamoowaad, "nda nendam ngkendaan eminezyeg nga doowaabmdaan. Giishpin bi bskaabiiswaan, giishpin tpineyaan maanda zhichigeyaan wii biidoowaan maanda, nda ndoowendaan mkwendmiiyeg miinwaa wii ngamyeg Nenaboozhoo ngamwinan."
One hot summer day after a powwow,Keeshig and his family go to the beachfor a swim. They are hot after dancingall day and need to cool off. While hisyounger brothers and dad are busygetting changed out of their regalia,Keeshig and his mom walk ahead tothe water's edge to feel the cool breezeoff the lake.As Keeshig and his mom stand on theshore of Gitchee Gumee (sometimescalled Lake Superior) they seeNanaboozhoo in the distance.Nanaboozhoo reveals himself as a bigpiece of land. He looks like a giant manlying on his back, taking a nap in thegreat big lake. People have differentnames for Nanaboozhoo dependingon who they are and where they comefrom. Some people call him Weaskejakor Glooscap, while others call him theSleeping Giant."Mom, I can see Nanaboozhoo!"Keeshig is excited to see Nanaboozhoofor he is a great teacher that teachespeople many things about life.
