Atchakosuk - MFNERC

AtchakosukFirst NationsEducation Administrators ShortCourse 2016

We are told the spirit lights above are ourrelations ”Atchakosuk”

Every culture in the Northern Hemisphere went out atnight and if it was clear saw the same sky

Therefore.EVERY culture in the northern hemispherehad their own constellations, mythologies, teachings

It was not only Romans & Greeks who understoodabout the sky. The Romans & Greeks were the luckyones who were put into the school curriculum

The Ininew (Cree) saw a great bear in the big dipperalso. It was called Mista Muskwa

The mythology of Mista Muskwa ties in with theconstellation Tepahkoop Pinesisuk (7 birds) in Greekmythology it is called Corona Borealis.

Here is the mythology of Mista Muskwa

Another constellation called Ahtimah Atchakosuk (TheDog Stars) known as Ursa Minor (Little Dipper) tells ushow humans were given the gift of the dogs

Another constellation of some significance is Makinak(The Turtle). This constellation reminds us of the LunarCalendar. Greek constellation Cepheus.

This is Tipiskawi Pisim (The Moon) . A full moon iscalled Wawiyi Pisim. Of course every culture underthe sky has their own mythologies about the moon.

The Ininew identify a little spirit on the moon. It iscalled Atchapasis & he holds 2 pails of water.

A Cresent Moon is called Pakwesiw Pisim & a NewMoon is Oskakocin.

Pisim.the sun. It is called Kiizis bythe Anishinabe.Wi by the Lakota Siksika say Ki'sómma

Wawatay the northern lights. When in full motion theyare referred to as Cipiyuk Nimitowak (spirits dancing).

Atchakos Ahkoop (the Star Blanket). The original starblanket had seven points that were symbolic ofPakone Kiisic.the hole-in-the-sky (Pleiades).

Atchakos Ahkoop was given to us by Atchakos Iskwew(Star Woman). Blankets today usually have an evennumber of points.

When Pakone Kiisic is mentioned it is referring toa spacial anomally.a worm hole.

Ininew mythology states there was a being of energy/spiritcalled Atchakos Iskwew who travelled through realities & shecame to Earth through Pakone Kiisic lowered here with thehelp of Koko Minakasis (grandmother Spider) who sits on theMilky Way or Atchak Sipi (river of spirits).

Through Atchakos Iskwew we all come to Earth.tolearn and teach and then return to misiwa

Another constellation prominent in the night sky isNiska (goose). We are told this is the sign and the paththe migratory birds follow.

Ocik Atchakosuk tell the tale of endless winter and howsummer was brought to us. Some anthropologists think thislegend is a living memory of when there was no summer inthis part of the world. Once again the Big Dipper is central.

Wisakaychak is a central figure in Ininew mythology.He is identified in the sky as the stars of Orionincluding Aldebaran . A winter constellation.

Sisikwun (the Rattle) tells us of the song & the arrival ofSpring. This constellation encompasses Polaris & connects toCepheus. The root word of Sisikwun is Sikwun Spring.

All people of the northern hemisphere know Polaris theNorth Star. The Ininewuk call it Keewatin the going homestar or Ehkakacit.the standing still star.

There are Thunderbirds in the night sky. I have beenshown Nipin Pinesiw (Summer Thunderbird)

The sacred 54’ SUMMER THUNDERBIRD

There is Pipoon Pinesiw.Tukwakin Pinesiw SikwunPinesiw I have been shown three to date.

Matootisan (Sweat Lodge) sits in the winter skydirectly across from Matootisan Assiniuk & reminds usof Assini Awasis. Star charts identify this as CoronaBorealis

Matootisan Assiniuk (Sweat Lodge Rocks) are identifiedon star charts as the Pleiades

We are told the Medicine Wheels found on the GreatPlains of North America are our sky charts ourcalendars

There are Sturgeon, eagles, moose, sweat lodge &sacred fire, Sasquatch and the Moon Bow Chief in thatblanket of stars

We are immersed in the sacred everyday worriedabout the price of gas & blocking out the stars ourrelatives.

Thanks are given to all our relatives that havecontributed to this knowledge and havecontinued on their sacred journey. Manyacknowledgements to those still visiting withus and touching us with understandings Wilfred BuckOpaskwayak Cree NationMFNERC Science Facilitator204 594 1290 ext: 2035

We are told the spirit lights above are our relations "Atchakosuk" Every culture in the Northern Hemisphere went out at night and if it was clear saw the same sky . All people of the northern hemisphere know Polaris the North Star. The Ininewuk call it Keewatin the going home star or Ehkakacit.the standing still star.