By Pamela Fulton
I WAS a very young child when my mother and father started to teach me about the Creator. No matter how far back I remember, I always knew the Creator was with me.
My mom’s family has been Anglicans for generations and were always active in the church. Like most churches when I was young, a lot of people of all ages attended. This is where I learned so much about life and people.
We attended church every Sunday possible. My dad taught Sunday School when he was available mostly in the winter when the ice wasn’t safe to walk cross to go to the states for work. He worked 7 days a week.
I enjoyed being in church because I liked hearing different sounds like kids whispers, a few louder than others... A baby’s cry, a strong voice… In the choir some voices blending so beautifully and some standing out with their own style… Great sounds!
At a young age, I got to know how different people are. But this was learning about just life experiences. One man who was in our choir had epilepsy and when he would have a seizure he would lay down beside his seat for a little while. Then when he felt better, he would get back into his seat and start singing. My parents explained to me what he had just experienced and I understood. Sometimes I would see him out in the community having an episode and I knew he would be fine. He had his own home, a garden and pigs, I always enjoyed seeing him tending to them. I knew he was a strong man and he just kept going and doing the things he loved. I always enjoyed seeing what everyone did in their lives, taking care of their children, the land and nature.
My mom is Chippewa and my dad Potawatomi; both are tribes of the Ojibway Nation. They taught me about my culture and spirituality. But they didn’t present it as my culture; what we had learned was just plain living. When we started hearing of the 7 Grandfather teachings and listed, we know this is how they taught us to live. They were instilled in us as life teachings. Humility, Bravery, Honesty, wisdom, Truth, Respect and Love - that is part of my spirituality and that is how I live my life.
I was in hospital and read all of my Children’s bible. I felt like I didn’t have to fear things that could hurt me and I had comfort. It’s the way our parents taught us about Creator God, Jesus and creation - that we get through life with Creator’s help and guidance. It is how our culture and the Anglican Church ways don’t conflict. If you are living as a Christian following the teachings Jesus gave us, it is the same as how we live.
Our parish hall was a large separate building where the whole community took part in church activities: Band Council events and family get togethers/special occasions. Our church men, women and children all took part in some planning, volunteering and as helpers to do whatever needed to be done. This is how I know being part of the church and in my community was what I enjoyed the most.
Now I volunteer in different ways and try to bridge communities.
I’ve been blessed all my life!
Pamela Fulton is a parishioner of St. John the Baptist, Walpole Island.