Keewaydinoquay Peschel facts for kids

Keewaydinoquay Pakawakuk Peschel (1919 – July 21, 1999) was a respected scholar, ethnobotanist, and herbalist. She was also a teacher and author. Keewaydinoquay was an Anishinaabeg Elder from the Crane Clan. She was born in Michigan around 1919. She spent much time on Garden Island, a special homeland for the Anishinaabeg people.

Her Early Life and Special Names

Keewaydinoquay's life began in a very unique way. She was born in a fishing boat that was on its way to a hospital. The boat then tipped over, but she survived, which many saw as a miracle.

Her childhood name meant "Walks with Bears." This name came from a story when she was a toddler. Her parents were picking blueberries and left her on a blanket. When they came back, they saw her standing with bears, all eating blueberries together! Her adult name, Giiwedinokwe, which was written as "Keewaydinoquay," means "Woman of the Northwest Wind." She received this name after a special vision quest.

Becoming a Healer and Teacher

From the age of nine, Keewaydinoquay learned from Nodjimahkwe, a famous Anishinaabeg medicine woman. For many years, Keewaydinoquay worked as a medicine woman. At that time, her people often did not have easy access to regular doctors. She helped many people who were very sick and even some who doctors thought could not get better.

When she was 57, Keewaydinoquay decided to study anthropology. She felt that people would listen to her more if she had a college degree. She earned a Master of Education Degree from Wayne State University. She also completed all the classes for a Ph.D. in ethnobotany at the University of Michigan.

In 1975, she won the Michigan Conservation Teacher of the Year award. This was for her "Outstanding Work in the Field of Conservation." In the 1980s, she taught classes at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. She taught about ethnobotany and the ideas of Great Lakes American Indians. She also gave many talks at events about herbs. Many important books about how Native Americans used plants in the Great Lakes area asked for her advice.

Her Home and Legacy

Keewaydinoquay lived in different places like Ann Arbor, Milwaukee, and Leland. But her favorite place, her "heart's home," was always Garden Island. She wrote many books about herbs, Native American medicine, and old legends for both children and adults.

She started a group called Miniss Kitigan Drum. This group is a non-profit organization. It works to keep the traditions of Great Lakes Native Americans alive and help them grow. Many people lovingly called Keewaydinoquay "Nookomis," which means Grandmother. Her group worked with recognized Native American tribes in the area.

Keewaydinoquay faced some challenges because she was willing to teach people who were not Native American. She started doing this when Native people had just gained the right to openly practice their traditional ceremonies. Keewaydinoquay said it "broke her heart" that she could not find Native people interested in learning their own culture. So, she offered her teachings to non-Native people as a way to save her heritage. She told critics that time was short. She believed that good-hearted people needed to work together to protect the Earth. Some other elders agreed with her wisdom. Later, many who had criticized her came to understand and share her teachings.

Remembering Keewaydinoquay

Keewaydinoquay passed away on July 21, 1999. She was honored with a traditional Midewiwin ceremony on Garden Island. In 2006, a book about her childhood was published by the University of Michigan Press. It was called "Keewaydinoquay, Stories From My Youth." This book was named one of the Notable Books of Michigan in 2007. A second book about her adult life, titled "Cedar Songs," was published in 2013.