In Ojibwa stories, Misamik, Nanabush’s pet giant beaver, built a giant dam at Bawating or Sault Ste. Marie area. It was said it was powerful enough to hold back the might of Lake Superior. Then after Years of neglect all that is left is the mighty rock base. Two things we must see from this great Ojibwa story and Region 4’s influence upon OCIP. One is that Region 4 has always helped hold back the might of disregarding the Past; thereby it puts in the work and dedication it takes to make a strong structure and hold true to our Ancestors. OCIP has always needed this lesson for it is ever caught between the need to conform to official rules and duties, while at the same time holding true to the traditions of our Ancestors. It is via hard work that a dam was created to hold to the mainstream rules and the leadings of the Great Creator, Mother Earth, Our Ancestors, and our Future; but this has always been from the work and guidance of Region 4. Another great lesson that Region 4 brings forth is twofold, first if OCIP takes it eyes off of the situation then the dam or situation will break down. Next, even if it does break down, the stone base is always there to build a new dam from. If you have ever seen Beavers building a dam, they always first look to build upon either an old dam or a strong base, OCIP has become the same. So OCIP gains the knowledge from all of Region 4’s membership that they must stem the tide of conformity, while not taking its eyes off the task at hand. But it must ever remembered that if something is missed, forgotten or lost we still have the stones to rebuild a strong dam or organization.
