Seven Grandfather Teachings

Seven Grandfather Teachings is a set of Anishinaabe guiding principles.

In Anishinabek News

• February 2015: Shibastik incorporates these teachings into his music.
• June 2015: Esther Michano and high school students painted the Grandfather Teachings on banners to be displayed throughout the community.
• July 2015: These teachings formed the basis for the interactive Dinowigehmin – Aboriginal Youth Leadership Program.
• May 2016: David Thompson shared these traditional teachings with elementary students during his time in Ear Falls.
• February 2017: The teachings include Love, Respect, Bravery, Honesty, Wisdom, Truth, and Humility. George Couchie used footprint-shaped signs to explain these principles during a public lecture.
• March 2018: Corrine Nabigon proposed using these teachings as a framework for a new Indigenous healthcare system.
• April 2018: The design of the new elementary school in Biigtigong Nishnaabeg is intended to encompass the philosophy of these teachings.
• December 2018: These teachings are used in the Kizhaay Anishinaabe Niin program to help men change their lives.
• August 2019: These teachings form the basis for seven Peace Medals to be awarded by Atlohsa Family Healing Services. The medals are intended to honor individuals and groups who demonstrate these principles through work in reconciliation.
• September 2019: The teachings consist of Truth, Wisdom, Love, Respect, Bravery, Honesty, and Humility. The Young People's Theatre used these seven principles as the themes for its 2019-20 theatrical season. The INDIGENizeUS project features educational workshops based on these seven ancestral values.
• October 2019: These teachings root and guide Autumn Peltier in all of her endeavors.
• March 2020: Ray Hookimaw stated that the way people communicate and create safe spaces is part of the Grandfather Teachings.
• April 2020: Scott McLeod incorporated these traditional teachings into a work of art created from a moose skull during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• September 2020: These teachings formed the basis of a new teacher resource created by university students. The teaching of Bravery was highlighted by Brooklyn Sawyer-Gingras through her artistic contribution to the reconciliation project.
• November 2020: These teachings served as a primary theme for the Mino-bimaadiziwin mural in Sudbury.
• January 2021: This topic was featured as a presentation in the webinar series led by Cindy Crowe and Melissa Roberts.
• February 2021: These teachings are used by Migizi Wazisin Elementary School to help build a proud Anishinaabe nation of learners.
• March 2021: The use of the Eagle Feather in courtrooms is intended to align legal proceedings with these traditional values.
• March 2021: The Seven Grandfather Teachings served as a foundational discussion topic for the writing assignment that led to the story Paying Respect. The teaching of respect within the Seven Grandfather Teachings inspired Jayden Restoule to write about kindness toward the earth and wildlife.
• June 2021: Nathan Wright stated that his leadership is guided by these principles.
• August 2021: Medical students were encouraged to incorporate these teachings to create positive changes within the medical community.
• September 2021: Reg Niganobe urged hunters to keep these teachings in mind while out on the land in 2021. The teachings are associated with upholding responsibilities to all relations and Mother Earth.
• January 2022: The self-governance transition process in Wahnapitae First Nation is rooted in the spirit of these teachings.
• June 2022: These teachings guide the sovereignty and responsibilities celebrated during Anishinaabe Giizhigad.
• June 2022: Grace Webb encouraged Indigenous youth to follow these teachings to help guide them.
• September 2022: The teachings include Dbaadendiziwin (Humility), Zaagidwin (Love), and Mnaadendmowin (Respect), though participants noted these are often undermined by lateral violence. Youth advocates emphasized the need for leaders to embody these teachings when supporting Niizh Manitoag individuals.
• January 2023: Sheila Decorte shared songs related to these teachings, including a Turtle Song for truth and an Eagle Honour Song for love.
• May 2023: Doug Little plans to incorporate these teachings into a future playground design for children. The project would feature the teachings in both English and Anishinaabemowin to support language learning.
• May 2023: These teachings serve as the primary guide for the responsibilities outlined in the Anishinaabe Chi-Naaknigewin.
• June 2023: The Seven Grandfather Teachings are represented by animal images in the artwork of Frank Polson. Players of Jeu Mikinak Game are required to share their memories of these teachings during gameplay.
• December 2023: Patrick Hunter provided templates based on these teachings for participants to use during his art workshops in Fort William First Nation. Participants like Mairead Coreau worked to complete a full set of paintings representing these traditional values.
• April 2024: These teachings form the basis of the Values for Success presentation delivered at the Going Further Together Personal and Professional Development Men's Conference. The principles of truth, respect, wisdom, honesty, love, humility, and courage are used in a model to help men make successful decisions.
• June 2024: The code of ethics for Niijaansinaanik Child and Family Services is rooted in these teachings. The teachings consist of Love, Respect, Bravery, Truth, Honesty, Humility, and Wisdom.
• September 2024: These teachings were shared with law students during the Gaa-maada'ooniding Law Camp 2024.
• December 2024: Each of the seven rooms in the new transitional housing facility is adorned with one of these teachings on the door.
• June 2025: Skylar Manitowabi stated that a good mentor for Indigenous youth should encompass these traditional values.
• July 2025: Fort William First Nation is incorporating these teachings into its financial literacy programming for youth. The teachings are intended to provide a solid foundation for how youth approach money and saving.
• August 2025: The teachings were displayed on the grounds of the Pays Plat Pow Wow to remind participants how they should be in life. Stephanie Moses noted that following these teachings makes life easier.
• February 2026: Student Tristan Hardy mentioned these as a common cultural knowledge point for people learning about their heritage.
• February 2026: The Seven Grandfather Teachings are honoured in the painting Mno Ishkode through various animal symbols. The teachings include Wisdom, Love, Respect, Bravery, Honesty, Humility, and Truth. Each teaching is associated with a specific animal, such as the beaver for Wisdom and the turtle for Truth.
• March 2026: Bob Goulais highlighted these values as essential for those dealing with Indigenous groups. The teachings include love and respect, which Bob Goulais described as fundamental traditional values.
• June 2026: These teachings were highlighted during a Thunder Bay workshop as a way to foster self-awareness and a strong sense of identity. Cheyenne Nobis stated that these principles are powerful tools for building resilience and confidence.
• August 2026: It is part of a catalogue of shows that Indigenous Tourism Ontario makes available for purchase by communities.
• August 2026: These teachings are integrated into the Family Bakinaage program to help participants connect traditional values with parenting.
• August 2026: Mark Marsolais-Nahwegahbow identified these teachings as the foundational values and beliefs for his business operations.
• September 2026: James Wilkinson spoke about the significance of these teachings during the 2026 cultural gathering in Thunder Bay.
• September 2026: The Anishinabek Educational Institute uses these traditional values as the foundation for its holistic educational mandate.
• September 2026: These traditional philosophies are integrated into the cultural curriculum of the Azhemiinigoziwin Program.