Pictured are Paula Sampson, director of VST’s Native Ministries program; Dorothy Visser, Hummingbird Ministries elder; Patricia Dutcher-Walls; Mary Fontaine, executive director; Rebecca Simpson; Laura Fortin, elder, and Ruth Adams, elder.
Rev. Dr. Patricia Dutcher-Walls and Rev. Rebecca Simpson were honoured by a naming ceremony at Hummingbird Ministries on Dec 14, 2013. Both Cree and Tsawwassen elders recognized and publicly honuored them for their unwavering support and devotion to Hummingbird Ministries for the past six years, by giving them Cree names reflecting Cree traditional spirituality in recognition of their personal and spiritual gifts.
Pat and Rebecca served as convenor and treasurer respectively.
Pat was given the name Wapikihew Iskwew (White Eagle Woman), an all white spiritual being in traditional Cree spirituality. She is the helper of Notikwew Atayokan (elder women). These are the wise and sacred elder women, female spirits and great women who have lived on earth, overcome great obstacles in life and are now the ones who are next to God. Just as an old man pipe carrier has a helper so do the Notikwew Atayokan. Wapikihew Iskwew sits at the western door on the medicine wheel but she is a helper of great wise women and female beings from all directions. Only those who are humble and pure in mind, heart and spirit can be helpers to Notikwew Atayokan. This name holds a high spiritual position in Cree beliefs and spirituality. Pat’s cape is blue with an image of an all white eagle with wings outspread over a yellow sun.
Rebecca was given the name Okihcita Iskwew (Warrior Woman), a woman of high rank and stature. She sits in position in a ceremony at the eastern door. She is adaptable and leads and takes care of the women, the children and families. She helps the men, too, but she leads the women in a pipe ceremony while the men are doing the thunderbird dance. This was a dance for good health, but was also done as a prayer for safe travels and sometimes for other reasons—like before a war in the old days. This name is given to someone who is a survivor and able to overcome great obstacles and changes in life. The image on Rebecca’s maroon coloured cape is a silhouette of Madonna and child in light beige buckskin, with a rainbow in beads above them. Warrior Woman brings peace to the women and children by fighting against those who try to harm them. She stops bad people just as the rainbow stops bad weather.
This story is about a first time ever-event, which reveals mutual respect between the Indigenous people in the Hummingbird community and non-Indigenous people who are members of both Hummingbird and the Presbyterian Church.
I am grateful for the Cree elder from Saskatchewan who provided the Indigenous knowledge and wisdom of Cree spirituality and story. Hummingbird is also grateful for the Coast Salish knowledge, wisdom and ceremony of the Tsawwassen elders and for the Tsawwassen people for hosting the event on their territory. Most of all, we give honour and respect to the Great Spirit, Creator and Redeemer God, who makes all things possible and brings peace to the earth.
