It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time…

I got to thinking about my heritage, partially because I think it’s rawsome and partially because Tate thinks it’s hott that I’m a quarter Native American.  I’m part of the Stoney tribe, their reservation is located in Alberta, Canada with a main town of Morley.  I learned a little about the tribe, the tribal website is www.stoneynation.com.  The culture is pretty amazing, I’d love to visit someday with my mom and my sister. 

This is a sunrise over the town of Morley -

It’s pretty beautiful… It’s weird, how far away I am from this place but how connected it all feels.  Very cool.  I’m really glad my mom took the time to tell us about this stuff when we were kids.  I don’t know.  I have fair skin and freckles, dark blonde hair, blue eyes, but I’m a quarter Nakoda.  I feel my roots pull me back to earth, and I thank God for that. 

Some cool stuff about the different moons -

January – Wichorhandu Waheamba – Middle Brother Moon
January is the mid-way moon in the seven cold moons. This is the time of scarcity, when there may be few resources to meet people and animals’ needs.

February – Hoya Tawaeh – Long Day Moon
The days grow longer. It also marks the return of hawks and eagles from their wintering grounds in the South.

March – Nowedescan Tawaeh – Goose Moon
This is the time when wild geese return from the South. This is also the time when Stoney hunters look for the bear who is still in his winter sleep.

April – Tabeyhan Tawaeh Frog Moon
The frog’s song announces the first warm months.
The frog people begin to sing.

May – Woiya Waheamba – Grass Moon
In Stoney chronology this marks the beginning of each year, the great pause before summer arrives. It is the beginning of the growing year.

June – Wapey Woshma Waheamba – Full Leaf Moon
This is the time when grasses, trees, and other vegetation come forth with new growth and blossoms.

July – Wasasa Waheamba – Red Berries Moon
July marks the time when Thunder (Mu), tends to the growing vegetation by bringing rain. Lightning assists in pointing to specific areas where water is needed. Then the thunderbirds bring water to the earth.

August – Pezeegasnabi Waheamba – Ripening Moon
This is the berries moon when gooseberries, chokecherries, Saskatoon berries are ripe to pick.

September – Worhpeyeh Waheamba – Elk-in-Heat Moon
Marks the beginning of the seven winter moons. Flowers, grasses and leaves turn from green, to yellow, to red, to brown. September is the rutting season for Elk.

October – Anokogeepa Waheamba – Joins-Both Sides Moon
This is the mid-moon that comes between winter and summer. Brings both warm and cold weather. Most birds start to migrate to the South.

November – Charhonga Waheamba – Frost-in-the-Lodges moon
The first frost makes crisp the hills and sky. The trees are leafless.

December – Wichorhandu Sungagu – Younger Brother Moon

January is Big Moon and December is the younger brother moon who attaches himself to his elder brother Big Moon. 

I like that, all the different moons.  All the different ways to appreciate life, the way seasons change into each other, the family involved… yes.

So I guess I shouldn’t fight it when my friends call me the “hippie”, should I?  :)