Voices from Wise Love
“Grandfathers and grandmothers should be listened to about the good way and about their life. Children need this kind of knowledge. They hunger for it. We have to share the knowledge we have.” – Linda Kaboni
“When I was young I learned lot from my grandparents. They taught me how to trap, and how to live off the land. – Jules Osawamick
“The best way to talk to a child is real real clam, not to yell. Both sides have to be respectful. The child and the parent. We have to teach that respect.” – Jacob Wemingwans
“All the older people, they are grandparents to every child here. Because one of our teachings is that the whole community raises the child.” – Jacob Wemingwans
“I lost my son three years ago. He was only 16. It’s devastating but I have so much love here for him. We learned how to grieve as family, not to shut each other out. So we learned that, and that’s part of empathy that our children need to learn. It’s ok to cry. It’s ok to say I love you. It’s ok to hug.” – Valerie Lavallee
“Our children are gifts from the creator. Love and respect them to raise them best you can. I know they are only on loan.” – Valerie Lavallee
“I have two daughters, three grandchildren. I taught them how to love no matter what state the person is in. We always told each other, “I love you”, and I think that is the most basic thing that everyone should be saying to their children, “I love you”. – Patricia Migwans
“I help my two children. And what I know to show them I would show them. They’ve seen me prepare fish and they said, “What are you doing Grandma?” I said, “I’m smoking fish, if you want to learn how, come with me, stay here and watch me. See how I do it.” Show them so they can carry on what they know. And I teach them Ojibwe. – Linda Judy Armstrong