Atchakosuk First Nations

Education Administrators Short Course 2016

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

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

It was not only Romans & Greeks who understood about the sky. The Romans & Greeks were the lucky ones who were put into the school curriculum…

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

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

Here is the mythology of Mista Muskwa

Another constellation called Ahtimah Atchakosuk (The Dog Stars) known as Ursa Minor (Little Dipper) tells us how humans were given the gift of the dogs…

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

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

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

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

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

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

Atchakos Ahkoop (the Star Blanket). The original star blanket had seven points that were symbolic of Pakone Kiisic..the hole-in-the-sky (Pleiades).

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

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

Ininew mythology states there was a being of energy/spirit called Atchakos Iskwew who travelled through realities & she came to Earth through Pakone Kiisic…lowered here with the help of Koko Minakasis (grandmother Spider) who sits on the Milky Way or Atchak Sipi (river of spirits).

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

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

Ocik Atchakosuk tell the tale of endless winter and how summer was brought to us. Some anthropologists think this legend is a living memory of when there was no summer in this 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 Orion including Aldebaran . A winter constellation.

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

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.

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

The sacred 54’ SUMMER THUNDERBIRD…

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

Matootisan (Sweat Lodge) sits in the winter sky directly across from Matootisan Assiniuk & reminds us of Assini Awasis. Star charts identify this as Corona Borealis

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

We are told the Medicine Wheels found on the Great Plains of North America are our sky charts…our calendars…

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

We are immersed in the sacred everyday…worried about the price of gas & blocking out the stars…our relatives..

Thanks are given to all our relatives that have contributed to this knowledge and have continued on their sacred journey. Many acknowledgements to those still visiting with us and touching us with understandings… Wilfred Buck Opaskwayak Cree Nation MFNERC Science Facilitator 204 594 1290 ext: 2035