A closing message from Knowledge Keeper Grandma Karen MacInnis

“The greatest lesson I’ve ever learned is this: when we help others, we help ourselves.”

Learn to love yourself, truly love yourself and you’ll find it easier to love others, to sit together, to talk, to listen. For our people, I know it can be hard. In many places around the world, communities have held onto their teachings. But here, many of ours were taken or lost.

I think of the children in South America who survived in the jungle, how did they make it? Because they had the teachings. They knew what to do.

My prayer is that our people will reach out and reclaim their culture, their teachings. I’m not saying you need to go to a ceremony—just begin. Learn what was meant for you. Make your own choices. And most of all, respect your neighbours.

Healing is essential. It’s the foundation. We are taught it takes seven generations to heal, but we won’t ever reach that seventh unless we begin now.

Life is hard. It’s not always fair—no one ever promised it would be. But the truth is, we each have the power to shift our path. To leave our head, enter our heart, and walk through the hard things. And you don’t have to do it alone, there are people who will walk with you, if you reach out.

Get involved in your community. Meet others. Instead of judging, try to understand. Ask yourself: Where do they come from? What are they carrying? What can I do to walk alongside them or help both of us move forward?

That’s how we grow. That’s how we heal.

When you show up for someone else, you learn. You become stronger.

And that is love in action.