
Maple Sugar Camp
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I was recently in Minnesota and Maple Sugar Camp out west of Minneapolis and the burbs. It recently closed in April and I was there a week before closing ceremonies for the Sunday ceremonies. The sap has been slow this year and only producing about half of what it typically does. This is just part of the experience, some years are more productive than others.
Porky White started the sugar camp back in 1976 near Maple Plain, MN. We remember and honor him by carrying on this tradition of making maple syrup, maple candy and maple sugar.
Back in Minnesota visiting family and I visited Sugarbush (aka Maple Sugar Camp). I joined my mom, who was invited to bless the water and help pray to thank the trees and Creator for all they provide for us. We wore our traditional ribbon skirts to show respect and honor for our traditions. Porky passed a long time ago now but he was my Weh-eh (teacher/guide in Anishinaabemowen) and taught me my first anishinaabemowen words as well as gave me my anishinaabe name. Miigwetch is anishinaabemowen for Thank You. Naming my business that was very intentional in that I am thankful for your support in all the way it comes to me and my business.
This time at camp was a really great reminder of how deep my roots run there and how much it means to connect with our traditional ways and share it with my mom. These traditions heavily influence my beadwork and how I live my life. It's all in relation to each other and to the world. We are nature and nature is us. We often forget in our tech heavy lives that being in relation to nature is what we were placed here to do.
Beading is a really beautiful way to reconnect to nature through creation and divine connection. It’s why I love sharing it with you. Not only am I creating beautiful things but in many ways I'm weaving community through beadwork. You'll see this idea coming up more and more in the future as I expand my offerings into tutorials and kits.