Evan Artwork

The goldfinches “the Ojibwe cultural toolbox” was what my son was using to guide his hand, showing him where to aim his intentions in life. The hunt. It can mean many things to many people across cultures. This is what it means to my son. When my son got his first deer at his very young age, he not only was responsible for taking the deer’s life, but he was responsible for cleaning the deer and removing all of the meat from the bones for packaging. We then held a special ceremony.A first kill feast is a traditional right of passage in our household. As his mother,I ceremonially and physically offer my son a bite of the meat he has provided. He holds up his hand and refuses me, and says, “No, I am thinking of the elders who cannot hunt for themselves.” I offer him a taste again, and again he refuses me. “No, I am thinking of all of the children who don’t have enough to eat.” I offer him a taste again, and again he refuses me. “No, I am thinking of my community and all of the people who came here to support me.” I offer him a taste once more and he finally accepts the meat. My husband then tells him that he has just changed his life. He says, “up to this point, you have relied on others to provide for you, and now you can provide not only for yourself but for others too. This is what it means to be a provider. When you achieve great success and abundance, whatever that means, whether its an animal you’ve killed, rice you’ve harvested, or money you’ve made, it is your responsibility to think about your elders, young children, and other members of your community. That is what it means to be a provider. That is what it means to be a man. You have changed your life today and no longer a child, you are now a man.