Local artist proves that old ways are still alive

Fifteen honoured guests, contributors and Aboriginal celebrities were given a rare and beautiful gift during the closing ceremonies of the 2008 Treaty Six Medicine Chest Gathering of Nations.
Each received a hand crafted, smoked moose-hide medicine bag decorated with porcupine quillwork, filled with authentic Native medicines, gathered from traditional lands by Cree healers, Elders, Medicine men and women.
Thunderchild artist and regalia maker Norman Moyah had been contacted by TCFN Director of Health Linda Okanee a scant two weeks before the gathering, hosted by Thunderchild, with a request to complete a commission of fifteen traditional medicine bags.
"Creating the medicine bags became a huge undertaking because I thought that it would be fitting that each of the bags should be decorated with porcupine quillwork done in the Thunderchild's traditional colors, green and yellow," said Moyah.
"I wanted to use materials and techniques that would be symbolic of the Medicine Chest Gathering and bring home the meaning ­ we are not changing and are going to hang onto our old ways and what is real."
Moyah cut out the patterns and then laced and fringed the fifteen bags from a large, smoked moose-hide provided by the Health Committee.
The more difficult and time-consuming work began with the ancient quill working techniques, painstaking done one-quill-at-a-time.
"Quilled strips are done on a loom and most of the bags also had a disk, each with a unique design and pattern," said Moyah.
"I get all my quills from road-kills and then clean and wash them, ready to dye in large batches. This project took a lot of time and a lot of quills, with twelve days to make fifteen bags similar to pipe bags, but I wanted Thunderchild to look really good in the gift giving ceremonies. They were surprised because they had originally wanted simple little pull bags and were not expecting quillwork."
In ancient Plains, Parkland and Woodland Cree cultures, the porcupine carries powerful medicine.
"The rarity of quillwork symbolizes a strong stance, on not loosing touch with the old ways. It is a containment unit for our Native medicines and contains a person's life force and connection to the Spirit world, through sacred plants and healing."
Highly decorative, lightweight and easily transportable, quillwork was an essential part of nomadic life among ancient hunter gather societies, an honorable gift and excellent trade item.
"In ancient times, a person's medicine bag was tied onto their belt or carried next to their heart and for a solitary hunter, could mean the difference between life and death. Each tribe would have their own colors based on access to their own local berries, roots, bark and minerals."
After the completion of these unique works of art, the bags were given over to the Thunderchild First Nation, healers and Elders, which they filled with hand gathered, carefully prepared Native medicines then passed through the smoke, blessed and smudged.
"There were some very special medicines that cannot be revealed and traditionally, the sacred contents of a Medicine Bundle or Bag are for no ones eyes or ears except for the owner of the bag. They are made to be worn with dress clothes or regalia," said Moyah.
One of the gift bags was presented to Dakota House, celebrity and actor from 'North of 60' while another traveled overseas, to be worn by a traditional Hawaiian Medicine Man.
"Our visitor from Hawaii received a Medicine Bag and I wondered how he faired taking it through the Canadian/USA customs, the leather, the quillwork and special sacred medicines, many unknown and undocumented except by oral tradition through our healers," said Moyah.
Dwayne Noon, TCFN cultural co-coordinator for the gathering (and last seen picking wild berries, deep in the bush) was also thrilled to receive what he called, a traditional 'Muskimoot' made by Norman decorated with 'Kakwa ochikayoowin'
"It was an honour, an introduction, a starter kit if you will, to a traditional first aid kit," said Noon.
"Every medicine has a teaching and is an introduction to getting back into the balance of life. Made with natural materials, quilled, fringed and laced up the sides, it has my cold medicine in it, ready to make into a tea to knock out colds and fevers. I have all the medicines I need to stay healthy, right here in Saskatchewan."
"A powerful argument can be made for preserving the ecological diversity and integrity of our traditional lands in order to preserve our natural medicines. You cannot use our medicines unless you are willing to live the life and respect the teachings that come with it," said Noon.