Like many of her generation, she spent several years at Stewart Indian School
near Carson Indian Colony in Nevada, but managed to put it all behind her and
persist in retaining and passing on a wealth of knowledge from the lovely
Hupa area. Genny was an amazing woman, who shared her life with many of us.
During the last 10 yrs of her life, she had been acknowledged by many groups
for her tireless work with children within the Native community. Genny
also taught beading, quill work, & Calif. Indian Basketry at Rising Arrow in
Sunnyvale, and countless other Native traditions to children & adults alike,
throughout Northern California. Last June she performed the "ultimate
sacrifice," giving up attending the Annual Mtg of the California Indian Basket
Weavers Association at Tuolomne Rancheria, in order to give a class up at
DQ University along with Vivian Halestone.
To those of us who called her Grandma Genny, the sorrow runs deep and will take
a long time to soften. The loss to the Native and Fiber communities is a
great one.
Miigwech
lyn
*** OJIBWA PRAYER ****
Oh Great Spirit, whose voice I hear in the winds
And whose breath gives life to everyone,
Hear me.
I come to you as one of your many children;
I am weak .... I am small ... I need your wisdom
and your strength.
Let me walk in beauty, and make my eyes ever
behold the red and purple sunsets
Make my hands respect the things you have made.
And make my ears sharp so I may hear your voice.
Make me wise, so that I may understand what you
have taught my people and
The lessons you have hidden in each leaf
and each rock.
I ask for wisdom and strength
Not to be superior to my brothers, but to be able
to fight my greatest enemy, myself.
Make me ever ready to come before you with
clean hands and a straight eye.
So as life fades away as a fading sunset.
My spirit may come to you without shame
--- Author unknown.
ANISHINAABE ANAMAHEWIN
Gichi-manidoo
Nwaandawag noodinong
Miinawaa bimaadiziwin akiing etood
Bazindawishin! Nindagaachiinyiw miinawaa niniimiz.
Ninandawendaan gimishkawiziiwin miinawaa gigikendaasowin.
Bagidinishin wii-bimoseyaan wii-gonaajiwiyaan miinawaa
Nishkiinzhigoon apane ji-ani-waabandang meskwaag apaangishimog.
Nininjiin ji-ani-gichi-apiitendang gakina gegoon gaa-ozhitooyan
Miinawaa weweni wii-noondamaan ekidoyan.
Gikendamawishin wii-ani-nistotamaan gakina gegoon
Gaa-gikinoohamaadiwaa bemaadizijig.
Bagidinishin wii-ani-gikendamaan gikina gegoon gaa-ikidoyan
Aniibiishing miinawaa asiniing.
Mashkawiziiwin nindandane'aan, gaa wiin go nawaj wii-gichi-apiitendaagoziyaan
niikaanenyag dash
Wii-miigaanag gichi-zhiingenimag -- niin.
Bagidinishin apane wii-gizhiitaayaan wii-bi-izhaaminaan
Wii-mno-ganawaabamiyan apii waabaminaan.
Mii dash apii bimaadiziwin ni ningoshkaag dibishkoo apangishimog
Ninjichaag giga-bi-izhaamigon -- gaa win nga-giizaadendasii.
Miigwech!!!
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"We did not weave the web of life. We | Lyn Dearborn; Naturalist/Person
are merely a strand in it. Whatever | Turle Clan Ojibwe
we do to the web, we do to ourselves" | dearborn@anchor.engr.sgi.com
--"Walk gently on Mother Earth" -- | 415/ 321-1075
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