ABSTRACT
As expressed at the end of the previous chapter, the spirituality of the Anishinaabeg lives on. One way that is expressed is through the concept of bimaadiziwin. However, that is not the only way in which the spiritual life of the Anishinaabeg is manifested. In fact, the spirituality of the Anishinaabeg works very deeply within the culture. In this chapter, then, I would like to explore some of the additional forms of spirituality in the life of the Anishinaabeg. I would like to circle back in yet another process of accretive thinking to reconsider some of the evidence we have discussed in previous chapters. Specifically, I am interested in looking at our discussion on Anishinaabemowin, the Anishinaabe language. In Chapter 4 I argued that native speakers of Anishinaabemowin live as much in the quantum world as in the Newtonian. Here, I would like to add yet another layer to the understanding we developed in Chapter 4 by demonstrating that not only do native speakers of Anishinaabemowin live in the quantum world and Newtonian world, they live in a spiritual world as well, far beyond anything conceptualized by physicists to date. Continuing to build up layers of meaning, we will also consider the perception promoted by thinking in Anishinaabemowin that things lack inherent characteristics. In Chapter 4 we saw, for example, that the verb-based language of the Anishinaabeg lacks adjectives. Instead, the use of verbs to describe things imbues those things with a dynamic life that is always open to change. The spiritual life of the Anishinaabeg and the lack of inherent characteristics help promote spiritual growth and personal healing. We will examine the criminal justice system and efforts to heal personal trauma as evidence of this. Finally, we will look at the issue of kindness as one manifestation of spiritual growth. In the end, we will see the importance of spiritual growth to the Anishinaabeg. We will also see how complex spiritual growth can be in that so many different elements of the culture come together to help promote that goal. Truly, if anything informs the mind, heart, and spirit of the Anishinaabeg, it is spiritual growth. We will begin by revisiting our discussion in Chapter 4 about singing to heal.
