Visitors to last Saturday’s “Spring Into Your Local Library” event learned more about how to create a fire and how to get more connected with nature during presentations by Jefferson Ballew, a traditionalist with the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi, and Justin Lake, a naturalist from Washington State. 

The sounds of Native American drumming and singing could be heard from the new green space across the street from the Dowagiac District Library, hosts of the latest One Story event, “Traditional Lifeways Workshop.” After opening with a welcoming song, Ballew shared his knowledge of making fire from self-collected materials and the use of Native American sacred medicines. 

Ballew then tended the fire throughout the rest of the event. 

Justin Lake and his daughter, Neah, a citizen of the Pokagon Band, sang a traditional water song, explaining that fire and water create a balance. Traditionally, men would tend the fire and women would care for the water. 

Lake then spoke with the audience about his journey of inexperience with nature to his current day job of helping children and adults develop a deep nature connection.  The crowd could be seen “fox walking” and using their animal eyes and ears to take in the world around them. 

“Often, animals will come right up to me in the woods,” Lake said. “They might smell a human, but they don’t know it’s me because my body language is not like a human.  Everyone can learn how to do this, too.” 

The workshop finished with Ballew singing a special closing song to send everyone safely on their travels.  Potawatomi people use the word bamapi as a term for farewell.  It is believed that there are no good-byes, only “see you again at a later time.” 

The One Story partners said they hope to see many folks at the Pokagon Band Community Center on May 25 for the Epilogue Feast of 2017. A Native American feast will be served, and Potawatomi botanist and writer Robin Wall Kimmerer will speak of the connection and influence local plant life has on people. 

The event is free and open to the public of all ages.