The Seven Sacred Teachings

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The Seven Sacred Teachings

• Seven stages of live with seven gifts
• Ms. Gaudon MMS10

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7 Gifts in 4 Stages of life
The Mikmaq believe that life is broken into 7
stages, with four major life transition. As
seen in the image, most of your sacred gifts will
be bestowed between the ages of 7 and 21.
Stage 1 0-7 Stage 2 7-21 Stage 3
21-35 Stage 4 Infinite (you may never reach
wisdom)
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Colours Meaning

• White- represents the Elders but is shared with
  children under the age of 7. It is also the
  colour of the north.
• Black represents the spiritual world, it also
  represents the West.
• Yellow is for the South, where warm breezes come
  from. It renews life through the cycles.
• Red is the colour of the rising sun, and the
  newness of each day. It is the colour of the East.

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Colours in Action

• For Example The Mikmaq flag is made of red and
  white, representing the wisdom of the elders as
  well as the newness of every day.

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Sacred Teaching 1 Love

• Love is the first sacred teaching because it is
  what you begin your life with. In order to
  survive as an infant you must be given love to
  survive. True love comes from knowing the
  creator, and knowing you are a part of the circle
  of life.

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Sacred Teaching 2 Honesty

• You learn honesty as you grow from love to be
  true to yourself and to your creator. Children
  for example are usually very honest too honest
  some might argue, because they see the world
  through the love they were given.

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Sacred Teaching 3 Humility

• Humility is realizing that there is more to the
  world then just what you experience. As children
  grow, they often believe that what they see is
  all that exists. Humility is achieved when you
  understand that the world works together as a
  unit to grow and maintain itself.

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Sacred Teaching 4 Respect

• In the teenage years, once youve achieved
  humility, you grow into learning respect for the
  world around you, as well as your elders. You
  learn that no single being is more important than
  anyone else. Respecting animals is a good
  example. When a native slaughters an animal for
  food, they are sure to respect it by the manner
  it is killed, the purpose, and the use.

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Sacred Teaching 5 Truth

• Truth comes in your late teens/early 20s for
  most. The truth being that you have experienced
  and seen the truth of these laws. You know there
  is truth in love, honesty, humility, and respect.

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Sacred Teaching 6 Patience

• Before wisdom, we must first learn patience.
  Unfortunately, some people get stuck on this
  truth and never achieve the seventh teaching.
  Patience is difficult to achieve. To do so you
  must have a clear mind and true spirit.
• Other Aboriginal groups include courage for this
  category. But in the Maritime provinces, patience
  is generally accepted as sacred teaching 6.

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Sacred Teaching 7 Wisdom

• Wisdom is something that can only be achieved
  once you stop looking for it. It is a natural
  progression that demonstrates mastery of the
  prior 6 teachings. In my own band, many people
  refer to themselves as elders although they
  have not achieved these truths. You can spot the
  elders by who people go to for help. For example
  my Grandfather was considered an elder because he
  was wise in the ways of hunting- everyone wanted
  to learn from him. being old does not make you
  an elder

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Your Task

• 1. Pick TWO sacred truths that you can relate
  with
• 2. On loose-leaf write TWO paragraphs (1
  paragraph on each) on how you connect to these
  truths.
• Each paragraph should include Title of the
  truth, brief explanation of what it means, a
  personal connection/ story of how you have gained
  this truth in your life. Be specific. If you
  choose a truth you have not yet gained, explain
  to me why you think it is important, and why you
  hope to gain it.