Three Fires Midewiwin Lodge
Annual Spring Initiation Ceremonies
June 14-19, 2011

Ceremonies to be held at Madigan Park, Madigan Road off HWY # 2
3 miles east of Bad River Indian Reserve
Odanah, Wisconsin

Download full notice here.

Mother Earth Water Walk finale, Bad River Reservation June 10-12, 2011.

Mide Spring ceremonies * Preparation Agenda * Planning meeting will take place @ the Mide School,, Hwy #2, Cedar,Wis.

Agenda

 
June 9-13th (Thursday to Monday): Ceremony grounds, Mide preparations.

Sun. June 12th:

  • 9:00 a.m.: Water Bundle preparation followed by Offering at NOON.
  • Preparations take place at the Mide School. Offering will coincide with ocean water from the 4 directions via the Mother Earth Water Walk 2011 [see motherearthwaterwalk.com]
  • Please note**,,Bear,Bizhew,Eagle ,Buffalo,will take charge of security force, water walk events and Mide camp, {NIGHT ‘N DAY, 24×7} . Security detail must establish cooperative working relationship with Tribal and local law enforcement agencies.

June 14th, Tuesday:

Sweat Lodge Preparations for Initiate and Midewiwin Sweats

All Initiates for Spring Initiation to be present and accounted for by 4:00 p.m.

  • 900 a.m. Work Detail Meetings: Preparatory work continues.
  • 11:00 a.m. Teachers, Chiefs, Quays Meeting; All Midewiwin & Initiates
  • 6:30 p.m. Grand Chief presiding, healing/cleansing Sweat Lodge: TBA
  • Initiate Sweats TBA
  • Fire Chief will announce Fire Lighting Ceremony
  • Ceremonies Schedule,,,listen for important announcements

Day I June 15th, Wednesday:

  • 5:15 a.m. Fire Lighting
  • 6:20 a.m. Daybreak Ceremony,,7:30..finish,coffee ‘n lite breakfast available; break.
  • 11:00 a.m. Drum Call-In
  • T.B.A. Grandmothers Gathering/COMBINED YOUNG PEOPLE/YOUTH
  • Evening Sweat Lodges continue TBA,

Day II June 16th, Thursday: Initiate Teaching Sessions, Initiation Lodge building

  • 6:33 a.m. Sunrise Ceremony
  • 7:30 a.m. Break and Lodge Preparations
  • 10:00 a.m. Morning Session (All Midewiwin & Initiates present)
  • 1:00 p.m. Initiate Teaching Sessions
  • All Day Fern Gathering & Mide Tree/pole gathering,
  • Lodge Building all afternoon and evening.
  • 5;00 PM. Grand chief,raisings and bestowals, Mide road songs ‘n words of opening.

Day III June 17th, Friday: Initiations New Life Ceremony

  • 5:30 a.m. Door Opening Ceremony and Call In.
  • 8:00 a.m. Initiates final walk to the Mide Lodge Door. Initiations.

Day IV June 18th, Saturday: Complete Initiations

  • 6:00 a.m. Call in, Completion of Initiations
  • New Life Pole Celebration & Dance Out
  • TBA Ogitchidaw & Buffalo Dance Celebration
  • TBA Jingle Dress Medicine Dance

Day V June 19th Sunday: Lodge Protocols & Wrap-up

  • CLEAN UP (Taking down of Initiation Lodge / Camp and Mide School clean up, etc.)
  • Hugs, Tears, Peace — On the road by 5:10 p.m.

Gi Guh Waubuh Mi Goo, Neekawnis.

Bawdwaywindun Banaise, Chiefs and Quays of the Lodge

Feast Schedule:

  • Tuesday, Noon Lunch (volunteers needed)
  • Wed. 1:00 p.m. Centre Fire Welcoming Feast & Afternoon Lodge Session
  • 6:00 p.m. Evening Lodge Feast provided by Grandmothers
  • Thurs. noon and eve. Noon Feast by Wahbizhayshi Clan, Evening Feast by Hoof/Loon Clans
  • Fri. noon and eve. Noon Feast by Eagle/Bird Clans, Evening Feast by Water Clans
  • Sat. noon and eve. Noon Feast by Mukwa Clan, Evening Feast by Bizhew/Maweengun Clans
  • Sun. Travel Feast Provided by Last Year’s INITIATES

A Few Reminders:

Financing Ceremonies:

• Three Fires Midewiwin Ceremonies are funded entirely by the $$ donations from those who participate and support the Lodge. Each Doorway is expected to contribute to the cost of ceremonies, through donations from the Midewiwin, friends and supporters of that Doorway. In addition, Clans are expected to contribute $250.00 to the costs of the Cook & the Mide School kitchen (gas, electricity, kitchen tools and supplies) as well as the groceries and labor for their feast. ALL DONATIONS ARE NEEDED & APPRECIATED. The Mide Mall and Food Stand are also there to generate revenue to support the costs of ceremonies. All Donations of Quality items for the Mide Mall are appreciated, especially items relating to ceremonies: traditional tobacco, sheeshegwunug, and beadworked items, for example. (Danielle and Eddie J. can provide more information on what the Mall needs).

Anishinabe is always thinking ‘ What can/will I bring’?? How can I help? Here are some examples:

  • Reminder: We need to Dress our Most beautiful Lodge in our Midewiwin colors: red, green, blue, black and silver and decorate the doorway with mother the earth’s flowers. Bring cloth; Ribbon in all the Mide colors including silver.
  • Only wooden or plastic chairs are used inside the Initiation Medicine Lodge.
  • Medicines: CEDAR & BALSAM for SWEATS; cedar for our sacred fire and JD healing dance & healing ceremonies. Sweetgrass; sage; natural tobacco; copal & charcoal burners; bear root & sweet flag etc.
  • Remember to bring your feast bundle, and also Clan Feast contribution (traditional food, $).
  • Grandfather food, Ceremony feast food- wild meat; fish; corn; wild rice. Feast cloths.
  • Spring Ceremony grounds can be muddy, nights can be cool and days hot, come prepared!
  • Camping might be at a premium with the additional visitors due to the Water Walk.

Area Hotel-Motel Information:

There are many more hotels/motels in the area that are listed on the Internet, this is only a selection:

 

Odanah, Wisconsin

Bad River Casino 1-800-682-7121
(17 miles west of Mide School on US Hwy 2)

*Note : Bad River Casino Hotel has no current availability. You may be able to put your name on a waiting list for any cancellations.


Ashland, Wisconsin
(26 miles west of Mide School)

Ashland Motel 715-682-5503
2300 Lake Shore Dr.

Bayview Motel 715-682-5253
2419 Lake Shore Dr.

Bell Motel 715-682-4109
407 Lake Shore Dr.

Lake Aire Inn 715 682-4551
101 E. Lake Shore Dr.

Lake Side Motel 715-682-4575
1706 Lake Shore Dr.

Super 8 Motel 715-682-9377
1610 Lake Shore Dr.


 

Ironwood, Michigan
(13 miles east of Mide School)

Advance Motel 906-932-4511
663 E Cloverland Dr

Americ Inn Motel 906-932-7200
1117 E. Cloverland Dr.

Blue Cloud Motel 906-932-0920
105 W. Cloverland Dr

Comfort Inn 906-932-2224
210 E. Cloverland Dr.

Davey’s Motel 906-932-2020
260 E Cloverland Dr

Indianhead Motel 906-932-0800
823 E U S 2

Ironwood Motel 906-932-5520
112 W Cloverland Dr

Sandpiper Motel 906-932-2000
1200 E. Cloverland Dr.

Super 8 Motel 906-932-3395
160 E. Cloverland Dr.

Budget Host Inn 906-932-1260
447 W Cloverland Dr.

Crestview Motel 906-932-4845

Royal Motel 906-932-4230


 

Hurley, Wisconsin
(12 miles east of Mide School)

Days Inn 715-561-3500
850 10th Avenue

Ramada Inn 715-561-3030
1000 10th Avenue N.

Starlight Motel 715-561-3085

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